LaGuardia sinkhole forces cancellations, airport backups

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey shut one of LaGuardia Airport’s two runways on May 21 after a sinkhole was discovered during a routine airfield inspection, disrupting flights just before the Memorial Day travel rush. The closure reduced operating capacity at the Queens airport while crews inspected nearby pavement and carried out repairs, according to the Port Authority. The Federal Aviation Administration said it issued traffic management measures at LaGuardia after the discovery, and thunderstorms later added to delays. By Friday evening, the Port Authority said Runway 4/22 had reopened, but warned travelers to expect residual disruption. ### Where was the sinkhole, and why did it shut a runway? The Port Authority said the problem was discovered at about 11 a.m. Wednesday during its daily morning inspection of the airfield. QNS, citing the agency, reported the sinkhole was near Runway 4/22 and that the runway was closed because of its proximity to the damaged area and because investigators were checking for any other unstable spots nearby. (ny1.com) The Port Authority told QNS that ground-penetrating radar identified additional areas of concern that were then repaired before the runway reopened. The agency said its investigation into the cause of the sinkhole was continuing. ### How much did the closure disrupt flights at LaGuardia? NY1 reported that more than 280 flights were canceled at LaGuardia on Wednesday after the sinkhole was found. (qns.com) The outlet said the Port Authority advised travelers to expect delays and cancellations tied to both the sinkhole and severe thunderstorms. The FAA’s airport status page for LaGuardia showed a ground delay tied to runway maintenance on May 21, with average delays of 1 hour and 15 minutes. A separate FAA status listing on Saturday showed LaGuardia under a ground delay for a runway obstruction, with average delays of 1 hour and 35 minutes at the time of that posting. ### Did the problem spill over to JFK and Newark? (ny1.com) The Port Authority said on May 18 that about 5.6 million travelers were expected to use its airports and vehicular crossings during the five-day Memorial Day peak from May 21 through May 25. The agency said more than 2.1 million passengers were expected to pass through JFK, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia during that period, with travelers urged to use mass transit where possible because of heavy volumes and construction at JFK. (faa.gov) Travel And Tour World reported on May 23 that cancellations tied to the LaGuardia disruption added pressure at JFK and Newark as airlines rerouted passengers ahead of the holiday weekend. That account could not be independently confirmed in full from airline-by-airline disclosures reviewed here, but it matched the broader picture of a reduced-capacity LaGuardia operating during a record regional travel period. (panynj.gov) ### What did travelers say they were told? Travelers interviewed by NY1 said airlines did not always clearly separate weather-related disruption from the sinkhole-related operational problems. Elizabeth Wong told NY1 that her family’s original flight was canceled before they reached the airport and that a rebooked flight was also canceled. Nion Sedilko told the station her family was told the next available flight was Friday. (panynj.gov) The Port Authority said LaGuardia remained open during the runway closure, but that reduced capacity affected operations. The agency told travelers to check directly with their airlines for updated flight status. ### What is the status now, and what should travelers watch next? Runway 4/22 reopened at 7:45 p.m. Friday, the Port Authority said in a statement carried by QNS. (ny1.com) The agency said repairs identified through its pavement inspection were complete, while the investigation into the cause of the sinkhole remained ongoing. Saturday’s Port Authority alerts page showed no active airport-wide advisory, but directed passengers to airport social-media feeds for the latest updates. (qns.com) The FAA’s live airport status pages and airline flight-status tools remain the clearest places to track any remaining delays through Memorial Day weekend, which runs through Monday, May 25. (panynj.gov)