Sinkhole opens on LaGuardia airport runway sparking flight delays and cancelations

WorldTravel
21 May 2026 • 4:06 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Sinkhole opens on LaGuardia airport runway sparking flight delays and cancelations

  • Travelers have been warned to expect delays after a sinkhole was discovered on a runway at LaGuardia airport in New York City.
  • “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 airport wrote Wednesday. “The runway was immediately shut down, and emergency construction and engineering crews are onsite to determine the cause and complete necessary repairs as quickly and safely as possible.”
  • The statement continued, “The Port Authority is in close communication with airlines and airport partners and will continue providing updates as conditions evolve. Travelers should expect delays and cancellations, particularly with forecast thunderstorms expected later today, and are strongly encouraged to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight status information.”
  • The closure comes roughy two months after a plane collided with a fire truck on a runway at LaGuardia airport, killing two pilots onboard and wounding roughly 40 crew and passengers.