A shuttle bus collided with a concrete barrier around 3 a.m. on August 31, 2026, at the Departure Level 3 road of Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport, injuring 13 individuals. The injuries were reported as non-life threatening, though some sources indicate three suffered serious injuries.
Following the accident, the Departure Level 3 road at Terminal B was closed due to police presence and ongoing investigations. This closure forced the rerouting of passenger drop-offs and departures to Level 2 at Terminal B, generating localized traffic congestion but not impacting the entire airport’s operational status.
Flight operations at Newark Liberty
remain active. The FAA reported general gate holds and taxi delays of 15 minutes or less across the airport during the incident. United Airlines continued scheduled flights to and from Newark, including routes serving Dallas-Fort Worth, Boston, Washington, Nassau, Shannon, and the Delhi-Newark international service.
Passengers departing from Terminal B must allow extra time because of the road closure and potential congestion. Travelers are directed to utilize Level 2 departures and consult their airline’s official communication channels for flight-specific updates or cancellations, as no broad airport-wide shutdown or diversion policy has been enacted due to this incident.
The cause of
the shuttle bus collision remains under investigation. The FAA has advised passengers to rely primarily on airline sources for timely and accurate flight status information rather than general airport status reports. In 2025, Newark Liberty International Airport handled approximately 47 million passengers, underscoring its role as a major transportation hub.
