A sinkhole detected during a routine inspection led to the closure of a key runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Wednesday morning. This information was shared in a post by the airport on X.
Travel Impact and Delays
The Port Authority is working closely with airlines and other airport partners to manage the situation. Travelers face significant delays and cancellations throughout the day, particularly with expected thunderstorms in the area. This marks the second recent sinkhole incident following one on the Long Island Expressway on May 14, which has raised concerns about regional ground stability related to weather.
The runway closure comes nearly two months after a crash involving Air Canada Flight 8646 on March 22. In that incident, a CRJ-900 collided with a fire truck during landing on the same runway, leading to the deaths of two pilots and multiple injuries. This has heightened attention on the safety of LaGuardia’s airfields.
Newsweek reached out to the Port Authority for more details on Wednesday, but none were provided.
Sinkhole Discovery and Repairs
The sinkhole on Runway 4/22 was found around 11 a.m. during a daily airfield inspection. The runway, which is one of two at LaGuardia, was immediately closed while emergency teams arrived to identify the cause and start repairs.
Aerial footage from local news outlets shows a team of at least a dozen working to fix the problem, utilizing an excavator to address the issue.
Flight Operations and Delays
Runway 4/22 is a primary route for both arrivals and departures at LaGuardia. Its closure, coinciding with storms, amplifies delays at one of the country’s busiest airports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported average delays for arrivals at LaGuardia to be around 1 hour and 38 minutes at 2 p.m. ET.
Future Steps
Engineering teams are assessing the sinkhole’s size, cause, and its potential impact on the runway’s structure. Repair efforts are underway to resolve the issue as swiftly and safely as possible. The Port Authority will provide updates on the situation based on the findings about the extent of the damage.
Travelers should expect ongoing delays into the evening and are advised to check with their airline for the latest flight status.