LaGuardia Sinkhole Closes Runway, Triggers Hundreds of Flight Delays

A routine safety check at LaGuardia Airport turned into a travel emergency on Wednesday, May 20, after Port Authority of New York and New Jersey crews discovered a sinkhole at the edge of one of the airport's two runways. The hole was found around 11 a.m. during the daily morning inspection of the airfield. By nightfall, hundreds of flights had been cancelled or delayed, and a severe thunderstorm watch for the tri-state area was compounding the chaos.

A Two-Runway Airport With No Room for Error

The sinkhole appeared near Runway 4/22 in Queens and prompted officials to shut it down immediately. Unlike John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, both of which operate multiple runways, LaGuardia has just two. Taking one offline forced every arriving and departing aircraft onto Runway 13/31, sharply reducing the airport's capacity.

Port Authority sources told reporters that investigators are looking at several possible causes, including a nearby fuel line tunneling project. Engineers first need to determine whether the damage is a one-off pavement failure or evidence of a deeper structural or drainage problem before a formal reopening timeline can be established. The FAA issued a notice stating the runway would remain closed until at least 6 a.m. Thursday.

More Than 250 Flights Cancelled