Sinkhole Shuts LaGuardia Runway, Delays Expected

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey shut LaGuardia Airport’s Runway 4/22 on Wednesday, May 20, after crews found a sinkhole during a daily inspection of the airfield. The closure took one of the airport’s two runways out of service and led to delays and cancellations as airlines and controllers rerouted traffic through the remaining runway. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was slowing flights into LaGuardia because of weather and the sinkhole on Runway 4/22. The disruption came as thunderstorms moved through the region and days before the Memorial Day travel rush. ### Where was the sinkhole found, and when did crews discover it? The Port Authority said crews identified the sinkhole near Runway 4/22 at about 11 a.m. during LaGuardia’s daily morning airfield inspection. The agency said the runway was “immediately” shut down and emergency construction and engineering crews were sent to the site to determine the cause and make repairs. (cnbc.com) Runway 4/22 is one of two runways at LaGuardia, so the closure cut the airport’s operating flexibility in half. Reports from local outlets showed a lighted “X” marking the runway closed while repair crews worked nearby. ### Why did delays build so quickly at LaGuardia? LaGuardia operates with little spare capacity, and the closure forced arrivals and departures onto Runway 13/31. (cnbc.com) The Port Authority warned travelers to expect delays and cancellations, while CNBC reported the runway shutdown coincided with thunderstorms forecast for Wednesday. (abcnews.com) The FAA said it was slowing flights into LaGuardia “due to weather and a sinkhole on Runway 4/22,” according to ABC News. On the FAA’s airport-status page early Thursday, LaGuardia was still showing general departure and arrival delays, though the agency’s public status page attributed those conditions to weather programs then in effect. (cnbc.com) ### Which airlines said they were affected? Southwest Airlines said about 20 of its arrivals would be delayed on Wednesday, though a spokesman said weather was also a factor. Delta Air Lines said it had issued a weather waiver for flights in and out of New York City-area airports and allowed customers to rebook for travel no later than Sunday. (abcnews.com) Other carriers did not immediately respond to requests for comment, CNBC reported Wednesday. Local television coverage also showed cancellations mounting through the afternoon as crews remained on site. ### What have airport and federal officials said publicly? The Port Authority said the runway was shut down as soon as the sinkhole was discovered and that repair crews were working to restore service “as quickly and safely as possible.” LaGuardia Airport said on social media that the Port Authority was in close communication with airlines and airport partners and would continue to provide updates as conditions changed. (cnbc.com) The FAA did not post a separate newsroom statement in the search results reviewed here, but its delay systems and media accounts cited by ABC News tied the slowdown to both weather and the runway problem. The airport’s own alerts page on Wednesday evening also warned of flight disruptions and told passengers to check with their airlines. (cnbc.com) ### What should travelers watch next? LaGuardia’s alerts page and airline flight-status tools are the main public channels for near-term updates on repairs, cancellations and rebooking options. The FAA’s airport-status and National Airspace System pages also show current delay programs affecting LaGuardia. As of Thursday morning, May 21, the FAA’s public airport-status page still showed general delays at LaGuardia, and the National Airspace System dashboard listed a probable ground stop or delay program for later in the day. (abcnews.com) Travelers heading to the airport should check their airline before departure and monitor Port Authority advisories for any notice that Runway 4/22 has returned to service. (fly.faa.gov) (laguardiaairport.com)