Sinkhole Closes LaGuardia Runway Amid Thunderstorm Threat

A sinkhole forced LaGuardia to close a runway, prompting delays as thunderstorms loom.

Inspectors found a sinkhole near runway 4/22, which runs roughly northeast-southwest, at LaGuardia on Wednesday morning, shutting down that runway while emergency crews investigate.

The airport sits on land reclaimed from the bay in the 1930s, and a similar incident two months earlier involved an Air Canada crash on the same runway that killed two pilots.

LaGuardia's post on X said officials immediately shut down the runway and emergency construction and engineering crews are onsite to determine the cause and complete repairs as quickly and safely as possible.

The Port Authority warned travelers to expect delays and cancellations, especially with forecast thunderstorms later today, and urged them to check directly with airlines for updates.

A 2025 report found that roughly 3.5 million square meters of runway nationwide are significantly sinking, with nearly 14,000 square meters at high risk of structural damage.

The closure reduces LaGuardia's capacity, contributing to ground delays that the Federal Aviation Administration's airport monitoring service measured at an average of 1 hour and 37 minutes for arriving flights at 3 pm EST.

Ongoing subsidence highlights a broader infrastructure challenge for airports built on reclaimed land, where uneven settling can threaten runway integrity.

Travelers should watch for updates on repair timelines, weather developments, and any further operational adjustments from the Port Authority and airlines.