Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

LaGuardia Runway Closed Overnight, 174 Flights Delayed

6/18/2026

38 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Runway 4/22 at New York’s LaGuardia Airport was closed Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. after inspectors found a two-inch pavement depression.
Crews will work overnight and keep the runway shut until Thursday morning.
FlightAware reported an average 48-minute arrival delay and 174 delayed flights during the closure.
All traffic was shifted to Runway 13/31 while engineers test for groundwater, soil settlement, or pavement-base degradation before reopening.

History

Historical Context

The 1970 Airport and Airway Development Act created the trust fund that later became the FAA-managed Airport Improvement Program, which today funds most runway upgrades. Since the program’s FY 2017 grants totaled $3.33 billion, the FAA routinely tests soil and groundwater at projects like LaGuardia’s Runway 4/22. That preventive focus explains the swift shutdown to repair a two-inch depression.

1 of 2

Story summary

Runway 4/22 at New York’s LaGuardia Airport was closed Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. after inspectors found a two-inch pavement depression.
Crews will work overnight and keep the runway shut until Thursday morning.
FlightAware reported an average 48-minute arrival delay and 174 delayed flights during the closure.
All traffic was shifted to Runway 13/31 while engineers test for groundwater, soil settlement, or pavement-base degradation before reopening.

1 / 2