Sinkhole Shuts Runway At LaGuardia Airport

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey shut LaGuardia Airport’s Runway 4/22 on Wednesday after crews found a sinkhole during a daily airfield inspection. The agency said the pavement collapse was identified at about 11 a.m. near the runway, one of the airport’s two runways, and that emergency construction and engineering crews were sent to the site. The closure forced the airport to shift traffic on the field and triggered delays and cancellations as Memorial Day travel picked up. The Federal Aviation Administration’s daily traffic report for Wednesday also warned that thunderstorms could delay flights across much of the United States. ### Where was the sinkhole, and how did officials find it? LaGuardia crews found the sinkhole near Runway 4/22 during a routine morning inspection, according to the Port Authority. The agency said the runway was shut down immediately after the hole was identified. Runway 4/22 is one of two runways at LaGuardia. The Port Authority said emergency construction and engineering crews were working on repairs and trying to determine the cause of the pavement failure. ### How much did the runway closure disrupt flights? The Port Authority said travelers should expect delays and cancellations after the runway closure. CNBC, citing the agency, reported that the shutdown was expected to create disruptions through the day as airport operations were rerouted around the closed runway. The FAA’s LaGuardia status page showed only limited systemwide delays early Thursday, with departure gate holds and taxi delays of 15 minutes or less and arrival delays of 15 minutes or less. The FAA page said that update was posted at 4:21 a.m. UTC on May 21, 2026. ### Was weather also a factor at LaGuardia? The FAA said in its daily air traffic report for Wednesday, May 20, that thunderstorms could delay flights across a broad stretch of the country, from Boston to Tampa, as well as in Texas and Denver. (cnbc.com) The agency did not single out the LaGuardia sinkhole in that report, but the weather warning pointed to a second source of disruption facing travelers on the same day. (fly.faa.gov) CNBC reported that thunderstorms were also expected to move into the New York area on Wednesday, adding to the operational strain from the runway closure. ### What have the Port Authority and FAA said publicly? The Port Authority said the runway was closed immediately and that repair crews were on site. The agency also said it was investigating what caused the sinkhole near the runway surface. (faa.gov) The FAA’s public flight-information pages directed passengers to check with airlines for flight-specific impacts. The agency said its airport-status information reflects general conditions and not individual flights. (cnbc.com) ### Does this connect to other runway work at LaGuardia? Port Authority bid documents published in recent years show separate work tied to LaGuardia’s runway and taxiway infrastructure, including rehabilitation of deck structural elements at Runways 4/22 and 13/31 and a 2026 contract for sections of taxiways west of Runway 4/22. (kxel.com) Those documents do not say the sinkhole was related to any specific project, and officials have not publicly linked Wednesday’s collapse to prior construction or maintenance work. (fly.faa.gov) LaGuardia’s airfield has been part of broader airport modernization and infrastructure work overseen by the Port Authority, which has described the airport rebuild as part of a long-term regional capital program. ### What should travelers watch next? The FAA said passengers should use airline-specific information for flight impacts, while its LaGuardia status page and the National Airspace System dashboard continue to post airport conditions and traffic updates. (panynj.gov) The next concrete milestone is the reopening of Runway 4/22, which the Port Authority has not yet dated publicly. Until the agency issues that update, travelers heading into the Memorial Day weekend will be relying on airline alerts, FAA status pages and Port Authority statements for repair progress and operating conditions. (panynj.gov) (kxel.com) (fly.faa.gov)