LaGuardia Runway Closed by Sinkhole, Travelers Face Delays Ahead of Holiday Weekend

A sinkhole opened up on a runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport Wednesday morning, forcing an immediate shutdown and setting off a cascade of flight delays just as the Memorial Day travel rush begins.

Port Authority crews spotted the hole during a routine inspection near Runway 4/22, the agency said in a statement. Emergency construction teams are now on site to figure out what caused the damage and to patch things up as fast as they can. The runway will stay closed until it’s safe.

Travelers should brace for cancellations and long waits. The timing couldn’t be worse—thunderstorms are also moving into the region, and air traffic controllers are already slowing down flights or stopping departures when storms hit. The FAA said weather was causing delays at all three major New York-area airports, plus airports in New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

Airlines are scrambling. A Southwest spokesman said about 20 of its arrivals at LaGuardia will be delayed Wednesday, though weather is partly to blame. Delta has issued a weather waiver for New York-area flights, letting customers rebook through Sunday at no extra cost. Other major carriers hadn’t responded to requests for comment by late Wednesday.

LaGuardia is one of the country’s busiest airports, and the runway closure is adding fresh headaches during what’s already a hectic travel week. With storms and a sinkhole both in play, passengers should check their flight status before heading to the airport.