Sinkhole closes runway at LaGuardia

A sinkhole forced the closure of one of New York LaGuardia Airport’s runways Wednesday (May 20), causing flight delays and cancellations as emergency repairs got underway.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials said they hoped to reopen the runway by midday Thursday (May 21), according to CBS News.

The Port Authority, which operates New York City-area airports, said the sinkhole was found at about 11 a.m. during a routine morning inspection of LaGuardia’s airfield, reported Reuters.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it was slowing flights into LaGuardia because of both yesterday's forecast thunderstorms and the runway issue.

"The Port Authority is in close communication with airlines and airport partners and will continue providing updates as conditions evolve," wrote LaGuardia Airport in a post on X.

"Travelers should expect delays and cancellations...and are strongly encouraged to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight status information."

According to FlightAware, about 200 flights, or 17 per cent of arriving and departing flights at LaGuardia, were cancelled Wednesday. Another 190 flights were delayed.

Delta Air Lines is the largest carrier at LaGuardia, accounting for about 40 per cent of flights at the airport.

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