LaGuardia shuts down runway after discovering a pavement depression weeks after a sinkhole closure

LaGuardia Airport briefly shut down Runway 4/22 on June 17 after inspectors found an approximately two-inch depression in the pavement next to the runway, marking a second runway-related ground problem in just weeks.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the closure was precautionary and that there was no immediate safety concern. During the outage, operations were shifted to Runway 13/31 after 5 p.m.

Airport crews carried out additional testing and stabilization work overnight, and LaGuardia said Runway 4/22 reopened the morning of June 18.

Repeat issue in the same area

The June closure followed a similar incident in May, when the same runway was shut after a sinkhole was found during a morning inspection near Runway 4/22.

At the time, the airport said emergency construction and engineering crews were working to determine the cause and complete repairs as quickly and safely as possible. LaGuardia later said areas of concern had been proactively repaired, but the cause of the sinkhole was still under investigation.

Why it matters

LaGuardia has two main runways, so taking one out of service can reduce capacity and create delays for arrivals and departures. The airport advised travelers during both closures to check with their airlines for flight status.

The repeated pavement problems raise an open question about what is causing the failures near Runway 4/22 and whether more permanent repair work will be needed.