LaGuardia briefly closed Runway 4/22 again after airport found a 2-inch pavement depression

LaGuardia Airport temporarily closed Runway 4/22 on June 17 after an airfield inspection found an approximately 2-inch depression in the pavement beside the runway.

The airport said the shutdown was precautionary and that there was no immediate safety concern. While crews inspected and stabilized the area overnight, operations were shifted to Runway 13/31, LaGuardia’s other main runway.

Passengers were advised to check with airlines for flight status as the change in runway use could affect operations and delays.

Brief closure, quick repair

By June 18, the airport said Runway 4/22 had reopened. Coverage said the area had been repaired overnight and that service had returned to normal quickly after the inspection.

The incident mattered because it was the second runway-related disruption in a matter of weeks at one of the New York area’s busiest airports.

Why the recurrence matters

The same runway was shut down in May after a sinkhole was found near Runway 4/22 during the Memorial Day travel period. That earlier closure required emergency repairs before the runway reopened.

The June issue was described differently by airport officials and reporters, who said the latest closure followed the discovery of a pavement depression rather than a sinkhole. Even so, the recurrence renewed scrutiny of pavement conditions at the airport.

LaGuardia operates with only two main runways, so a closure on one runway can quickly reduce capacity and affect airline schedules. Flight-tracking data cited in coverage indicated the switch to the remaining runway created operational pressure during the closure.

What remains unresolved

Officials have not said what caused the new depression, and it is not yet clear whether the June problem is connected to the earlier sinkhole or is a separate pavement issue.

For now, the airport says the runway has reopened, but further monitoring or repair work may still be needed if officials find additional damage.