Sinkhole shuts LaGuardia runway

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey shut one of LaGuardia Airport’s two runways on Wednesday after crews found a sinkhole near Runway 4/22 during a routine morning inspection. The closure cut the Queens airport’s operating capacity in half at a time when thunderstorms were already threatening flights across the New York region. The Port Authority said travelers should expect delays and cancellations, and the Federal Aviation Administration said it was slowing flights into LaGuardia because of both weather and the runway problem. The disruption landed a day before the start of the Port Authority’s Memorial Day travel advisory period. ### Where was the sinkhole found, and when did crews spot it? Port Authority crews found the sinkhole at about 11 a.m. on May 20 near Runway 4/22 during LaGuardia’s daily airfield inspection, according to statements carried by CNBC, ABC News and NBC New York. The runway was shut down immediately, and emergency construction and engineering crews were sent to the site to assess the cause and make repairs. (cnbc.com) CBS New York and AeroXplorer said the hole was on the taxiway edge near the runway, while aerial images and local television footage showed excavators and trucks working in the affected area. No injuries were reported. ### Why did one runway closure cause such a large disruption? (cnbc.com) LaGuardia has only two runways, and the closure of Runway 4/22 forced all takeoffs and landings onto Runway 13/31, according to Port Authority statements and multiple reports. That matters at LaGuardia because the airport is one of the country’s most congested hubs even under normal operations. CNBC reported that the loss of one runway came ahead of the busy Memorial Day travel period, while AeroXplorer said the airport had to handle all traffic on the remaining strip. (aeroxplorer.com) The FAA said it was slowing flights into LaGuardia because of “weather and a sinkhole on Runway 4/22,” ABC News reported. NBC New York said arriving flights were already being delayed by about an hour and a half by midafternoon Wednesday. ### How much of the disruption was the sinkhole, and how much was weather? Thunderstorms were in the forecast for Wednesday evening, and the Port Authority warned that weather would add to the impact from the runway shutdown. (cnbc.com) CNBC reported that weather was already delaying flights at all three major airports serving New York City and much of New Jersey, as well as in the Washington area, according to the FAA. (abcnews.com) Delta Air Lines said it had issued a weather waiver for flights in and out of New York City-area airports, allowing customers to rebook through Sunday, CNBC reported. Southwest Airlines said about 20 of its arrivals would be delayed Wednesday, though a spokesman said weather was also a factor. ### How long was the runway expected to stay closed? The FAA notice cited by ABC News said Runway 4/22 was expected to remain closed until 6 a.m. (cnbc.com) Eastern on Thursday, though ABC said that timing was subject to change. NBC New York reported later Wednesday that the runway would remain closed until 10 a.m. Thursday while repairs continued. As of May 19, the Port Authority had already issued a Memorial Day weekend travel advisory for its airports, and the agency’s holiday travel period runs from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, according to Port Authority materials cited in regional coverage. Travelers were told to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight status. (panynj.gov) (abcnews.com)