Sinkhole at LaGuardia Airport forces runway to shut down

A runway at LaGuardia Airport was shut down on Wednesday due to a sinkhole.

The sinkhole was spotted during daily morning inspection when Port Authority of New York and New Jersey crews noticed the hole on the taxiway right on the edge of Runway 4/22 at around 11 a.m.

Here's what we know

The runway was immediately closed so that necessary repairs could be made and a cause could be identified, the airport said.

Chopper 2 was over the scene as Port Authority workers and heavy machinery, including an excavator and a dump truck, converged on the sinkhole.  

"The Port Authority is in close communication with airlines and airport partners and will continue providing updates as conditions evolve," LaGuardia Airport said on social media.

Unlike nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, which have numerous runways they can fall back on in the case of a problem such as this, LaGuardia has just two runways to handle all takeoffs and landings. Because 4/22 is expected to be shut down for an undetermined amount of time, all air traffic now has to land and take off at Runway 13/31. That is expected to lead to extensive cancellations and delays.

Compounding the problem is a forecast calling for thunderstorms from the late afternoon until around 9 p.m.

"Travelers should expect delays and cancellations, particularly with forecast thunderstorms expected later today, and are strongly encouraged to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight status information," the airport said.

Sinkholes unusual, but not unprecedented

Port Authority sources say investigators are looking at many possibilities that may have caused this hole to open up, including a fuel line tunneling project.

CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave said sinkholes like the one at LaGuardia are fairly uncommon.

"Potholes on runways and the taxiways at an airport are fairly unusual, but like any roadway, something can undermine that surface and cause it to collapse," Van Cleave said. "Earlier this year, the Baltimore airport had to close its runway because of what were described as potholes there. That was a fairly quick fix."

He said while what happened Wednesday may cause a headache for travelers, it highlights that regular inspection are working.