LaGuardia Airport sinkhole forces runway closure ahead of Memorial Day rush
May 21, 2026
A sinkhole at New York’s LaGuardia Airport has forced the closure of one of the airport’s two runways, triggering flight delays and cancellations just as the busy Memorial Day travel rush begins.
The sinkhole was identified around 11 a.m. on Wednesday during a routine airfield inspection by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Officials immediately shut down Runway 4/22, deploying emergency engineering and construction crews to begin repairs and investigate the cause.
In a post on X, LaGuardia Airport warned travellers to expect delays and cancellations, especially with thunderstorms forecast across the New York region.
At approximately 11 a.m., the Port Authority was conducting its daily morning inspection of LaGuardia’s airfield when crews identified a sinkhole near Runway 4/22. The runway was immediately shut down, and emergency construction and engineering crews are onsite to determine the…
— LaGuardia Airport (@LGAairport) May 20, 2026
The Memorial Day holiday period is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year in the United States, with millions of passengers expected to pass through New York-area airports over the next five days.
FAA slows flights as LaGuardia operates with one runway
Unlike nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport or Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia operates with only two intersecting runways. Losing Runway 4/22 significantly reduces operational flexibility, particularly during bad weather.
The Federal Aviation Administration slowed inbound flights to LaGuardia due to both the runway closure and severe weather, issuing a ground delay to help airlines adjust operations for a single-runway configuration.
Reuters reported on Wednesday evening that flight-tracking service FlightAware showed roughly 200 cancellations and nearly 200 delays affecting flights into and out of LaGuardia.
Air traffic control audio links sinkhole to airport construction work
As reported by CBS News, air traffic control audio captured a pilot’s exchange with controllers about why the runway had suddenly been closed.
“Ground. What happened to runway 4/22?” the pilot asked.
“There’s a sinkhole,” the controller replied.
“Part of the construction project?” the pilot asked.
“I think that’s safe to assume that,” the controller replied.
CBS News captured images of crews working with excavators and heavy equipment near the sinkhole and reported that work continued on the affected runway throughout the afternoon and evening. Airport officials said repairs would continue overnight.
Sinkhole disruption adds to recent safety concerns at LaGuardia
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has invested $8 billion in a full modernisation of LaGuardia Airport, to improve the passenger experience, transforming it from “worst to world class.”
However, the sinkhole runway closure comes only weeks after a fatal March incident on the same runway involving an Air Canada regional jet and a Port Authority fire vehicle, an accident now under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Sinkholes on airport pavements are relatively rare, but drainage issues and underground construction work can contribute to pavement failures.
“Potholes on runways and the taxiways at an airport are fairly unusual, but like any roadway, something can undermine that surface and cause it to collapse,” CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave said. “Earlier this year, the Baltimore airport had to close its runway because of what were described as potholes there. That was a fairly quick fix.”
Travellers flying through LaGuardia over Memorial Day weekend are advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight information and to prepare for ongoing disruptions.
Featured Image: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
