Full Breakdown
LaGuardia Airport’s Runway 4/22 Closed After Pavement Depression Detected
6/18/2026, 12:51:46 PM
Runway 4/22 Closed After Pavement Depression Detected
At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey halted operations on Runway 4/22 at LaGuardia Airport after a routine airfield inspection revealed an approximately two-inch depression adjacent to the runway surface. Flights were rerouted to the remaining runway, 13/31, while crews began structural testing, cause analysis, and stabilization work, with a target to restore service by Thursday morning.
Recent History of Runway Disruptions
Runway 4/22 has been closed twice in the past month. In May, a sinkhole at the taxiway edge forced a multi-day shutdown that delayed or cancelled over 1,000 flights during Memorial Day. A March closure followed a fatal collision between Air Canada Flight 8646 and a Port Authority fire truck. The airport, built on landfill in Flushing Bay, is undergoing a multi-billion-dollar modernization program with extensive terminal and infrastructure upgrades.
Operational Impact
The Federal Aviation Administration reported an average departure delay of one hour after the Wednesday shutdown. Flight-tracking data from FlightAware showed average arrival delays of 48 minutes, with 174 flights delayed at the time of reporting. The May sinkhole incident had previously affected over 1,000 flights.
Official Statements & Responses
Port Authority officials said there was “no immediate safety concern” and that the runway was closed “proactively.” They said the agency aims to finish assessment and repairs overnight and reopen the runway once safety is confirmed. The FAA confirmed it was slowing inbound flights and advised travelers to check with airlines for updates.
Passenger Concerns
Travelers expressed unease about the recurring pavement issues. Some welcomed the precautionary shutdown; others called the situation “terrifying” and said repeated incidents compound travel delays. The closures have prompted calls for a thorough examination of the airport’s structural integrity.
Conflicting Information & Gaps
Port Authority representatives have not clarified whether the depression is linked to the May sinkhole or to factors such as groundwater, soil settlement, or pavement-base degradation. The cause remains under investigation, leaving a gap in public understanding of the runway’s long-term stability.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I'm glad they're taking the precautions to shut it down. To be honest, I'd rather it be shut down than to be going through a sinkhole area,” — Jen Logan, passenger
- “That's kind of terrifying. Especially if it's happened before,” — Stephen Thurm, passenger
- “I guess it's just a compounding issue that we're already kind of dealing with, with travel, that just safety and travel time are already on the decline,” — Derrick Woods, traveler
- “There is no immediate safety concern and the runway is being closed proactively,” — Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, statement
What’s Next
Engineering teams will conduct overnight structural testing and stabilization of the affected pavement section, with reopening expected by Thursday morning. A longer-term investigation will assess whether broader reinforcement of the runway foundation is required to prevent future depressions.
