Sinkhole shuts down runway at LaGuardia Airport

A sinkhole discovered next to a runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York has shut down part of the airfield, disrupting flights as thunderstorms also move through the area, according to airport and federal aviation officials.

The sinkhole was found at about 11 a.m. on Wednesday during the Port Authority’s daily morning inspection of LaGuardia’s airfield. The airport said Runway 4/22 was immediately shut down after crews identified the sinkhole.

Emergency construction and engineering crews were sent to the site to determine what caused the sinkhole and make repairs “as quickly and safely as possible,” the airport said.

Footage recorded by local media helicopters showed the sinkhole just off the runway, with crews working around the area. Several people at the site were wearing FAA jackets.

The FAA earlier said it was slowing flights into LaGuardia because of weather and a sinkhole on the runway. A later notice listed thunderstorms as the cause of a traffic management program for arriving flights, with average delays of 1 hour and 37 minutes.

FlightAware data showed 95 flights canceled and 121 delayed by origin airport at LaGuardia, along with 102 cancellations and 168 delays by destination.

The Port Authority said it was in close contact with airlines and airport partners as repairs continued. Travelers were told to expect delays and cancellations.

It was not immediately clear what caused the sinkhole or whether any other parts of the airport are at risk.