Sinkhole opens near LaGuardia Airport runway, forcing emergency shutdown

A sinkhole was discovered near a runway at New York City's LaGuardia Airport on Wednesday, leading to an emergency shutdown as workers rushed to make repairs. 

The hole was found at around 11 am near Runway 4/22, one of the airport’s primary routes. It was discovered the same day that thunderstorms were already expected to cause a disruption in daily operations.

According to the Port Authority, the sinkhole was found while the agency conducted its morning inspection of the airfield. The runway was shut down in response, leading to flight delays, as engineering crews rushed to the site to make repairs and determine the cause “as quickly as possible," the New York Post reported.

“The Port Authority is in close communication with airlines and airport partners and will continue providing updates as conditions evolve,” LaGuardia Airport posted on X. “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.”

This is the second time a sinkhole has been discovered in the region. Last week, another sinkhole was discovered on the Long Island Expressway. The hole measured approximately 10 feet in diameter and was 8 feet deep. 

According to a 2025 report published by the American Geophysical Union, there are a number of airports that face challenges due to uneven ground sinking along the runways. The report said that about 3.5 million square meters of runway experience significant sinking, and nearly 14,000 square meters are at high risk of structural damage.

“So far, no crashes or major incidents have been directly caused by subsidence, but airports are facing higher maintenance costs as they try to fix damage,” the report said.