A sinkhole found near New York’s LaGuardia Airport leads to authorities shutting down the runway, causing massive flight delays.
Runway 4/22 was taken out of service immediately, allowing construction and engineering teams to assess and restore the damage after crew members discovered a sinkhole during their routine inspection on Wednesday, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Moreover, as stated by The New York Post’s report, hundreds of flights were delayed while many more were cancelled. According to WCNC, airport capacity dropped sharply with 17% of flights cancelled as of 5 p.m. ET. The Federal Aviation Administration also slowed arrivals into the airport because of the runway closure and forecast thunderstorms, forcing airlines to adjust schedules to accommodate reduced operational capacity.
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Authorities added that repair work would continue until engineers determined the affected area was safe for normal aircraft operations.
The disruption created frustration for passengers traveling through one of the nation’s busiest airports, with long delays and cancellations affecting both departures and arrivals. Travelers were advised to check directly with their airlines for updated flight information as crews continued restoration efforts throughout the day.
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Social media users reacted with a mix of frustration and humor as news of the sinkhole spread online. Several travelers posted about long delays and missed connections, while others joked that “a sinkhole at an airport wasn’t on my bingo card.” Users on Reddit aviation forums also expressed relief that crews discovered the damage before a possible accident, while others criticized aging infrastructure at major U.S. airports.
LaGuardia Airport remained operational using its other runway while repair teams worked on the damaged section. Authorities did not immediately announce when Runway 4/22 would fully reopen.