NEW YORK- A fire caught at a Starbucks concession in Newark International Airport (EWR) Terminal A sparked chaos early Sunday morning, causing evacuations and flight delays.
The blaze, which began around 4 am in the secure airside area, filled the terminal with smoke and triggered the sprinkler system, flooding a baggage handling room.
Newark Airport Terminal Caught Fire
Firefighters rushed to contain the fire, forcing thousands of passengers to evacuate or remain outside the terminal. The incident severely disrupted travel plans, preventing many from reaching their gates, PYOK reoprted.
Newark Liberty Airport officials have been vague about the cause of the disruption. Initially, they attributed the problems to “ongoing maintenance” in a social media post on X, advising passengers to allow extra time for travel.
A subsequent update referred to a “building utility issue” and urged travelers to check their flight status before departing for the airport.
The fire’s origin remains under investigation, with authorities yet to determine the exact cause.
Airlines affected by the Terminal A disruption include American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Air Canada, and some United Airlines flights.
The incident highlights the potential for localized events to cause widespread travel disruptions, emphasizing the need for swift emergency response and clear communication in airport settings.
Passenger Complaints
A passenger scheduled to depart from Newark on Sunday morning reported being stranded in Terminal A for four hours after the TSA shut down all checkpoints, blocking access to the airside departure area.
Once the checkpoint finally reopened, she shared a photo of a cordoned-off Starbucks kiosk, which had been the focal point of the disturbance.
Another affected passenger, Shawn Cicoria, expressed frustration on X, citing a lack of communication from the airport and airlines that operate within Terminal A.
In a post on social media, Shawn reported that hundreds of passengers were waiting to check bags with United Airlines but had received no updates on why flights were delayed at the airport.
Another passenger, Mary-Grace Lamonte, feared she would miss her flight due to a fire alarm incident but later thanked JetBlue for holding flights until security checkpoints reopened.
Despite the early disruptions, Newark Airport has confirmed that flights from Terminal A operated smoothly.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also noted that lines for security checkpoints were cleared promptly once operations resumed.
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The post Newark Airport Terminal Filled with Smoke as Starbucks Caught Fire appeared first on Aviation A2Z.