Thirteen people were injured early Monday morning at Newark Liberty Airport when a staff bus went off the curb and crashed into a concrete wall in the departures area. The accident occurred shortly after 3 a.m. on Level 3 of Terminal B , during a time of minimal passenger traffic.
According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey , the vehicle was a shuttle carrying airport workers — a detail that explains the schedule of the route, as ground staff shifts change before the morning rush of flights. Rescuers found the bus immobilized on the concrete barrier, with its windshield completely destroyed and severe damage to the right side of the body, which suggests a side impact after climbing onto the sidewalk.
All thirteen injured were taken to hospital. Three suffered serious injuries , but none of the injuries were considered life-threatening, while the remaining ten suffered minor injuries.
The Port Authority Police Department closed the Level 3 road in order to conduct the autopsy and remove the debris with a crane, while informing the passenger public that, due to police activity, disembarkation for Terminal B departures is taking place on Level 2. The instruction was given through the airport’s official accounts shortly before the morning peak, in order to avoid overcrowding at the accesses.
Air traffic was not affected. The problem was limited to the complex’s road network, with no impact on flights or terminal operations. The closure of Level 3, however, coincided with scheduled roadworks on the airport, for which authorities had already warned drivers that there would be temporary traffic disruptions on Monday — without, as clarified, there being any indication that they were related to the accident.
The cause of the crash remains unknown . Authorities have not released any information about the driver, nor have they reported any mechanical failure, medical incident, or human error. The investigation is ongoing and the first answers are expected after examining the vehicle and taking statements from the occupants.
