Newark Airport faced a temporary halt in operations Monday morning after smoke prompted the evacuation of its air traffic control tower. This incident occurred shortly after LaGuardia Airport was shut down due to a tragic plane crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey were transferred to an on-site backup facility following the detection of a burning odor.

“Operations have been temporarily suspended at Newark Liberty International Airport as air traffic controllers were forced to evacuate the tower due to a burning smell emanating from an elevator,” the FAA announced.

The ground stop was initially expected to be lifted by 8:30 a.m., about an hour after it commenced. However, the disruption is likely to cause further delays for travelers in the New York area.

Passengers nationwide are already experiencing lengthy security delays due to the ongoing Transportation Security Administration shutdown.

On a tragic note, two pilots lost their lives late Sunday night at LaGuardia Airport in Queens when an Air Canada flight collided with a fire truck on the runway. The airport is expected to remain closed until Monday afternoon.

This is a developing story. Please check back for more information.