A sinkhole has been found at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, the airport has announced on social media, with flights expected to be delayed or cancelled.
They confirmed: "At approximately 11 a.m., the Port Authority was conducting its daily morning inspection of LaGuardia’s airfield when crews identified a sinkhole near Runway 4/22.
"The runway was immediately shut down, and emergency construction and engineering crews are onsite to determine the cause and complete necessary repairs as quickly and safely as possible.
"The Port Authority is in close communication with airlines and airport partners and will continue providing updates as conditions evolve.
"Travellers 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."
Passengers have been advised to "Plan ahead and arrive early if you're traveling through LaGuardia Airport today! It's going to be busy.
"Budget extra travel time to arrive at the airport, park in your reserved spot, check-in, and get through security."
Weather is also set to hamper flights to and from the New York City airport, as they confirmed earlier today: "Weather conditions have caused LGA Airport flight disruptions. Check with your airline to determine the status of your flight.
LaGuardia Airport has announced a sinkhole in one of its runways, as they rush to get it fixed
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New York City is currently under Severe Thunderstorm Watch, meaning that "conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area."
According to the New York City Emergency Management: "Regardless of their severity, all thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people nationally each year than tornadoes.
"Strong winds, hail, flooding, and tornadoes are other dangers associated with thunderstorms.
"New York State is considered to have a 'moderate' occurrence of lightning, with 3.8 strikes occurring per square mile each year."
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One of the runways has been shut at LaGuardia Airport as a result of the sinkhole
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The sinkhole has appeared just weeks after two Air Canada Pilots died after colliding with a fire truck at the airport.
The swift reactions of Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther, the two pilots, have been hailed as likely saving the lives of all 72 others aboard the Bombardier CRJ-900, though 41 passengers and crew required hospital treatment alongside two officers from the fire truck that the plane crashed into.
Clément Lelièvre, a French passenger, said that the crew applied the brakes "extremely hard" as the aircraft touched down, an action he believes averted further fatalities.
"I don't know the circumstances, but I think he kind of saved our lives because he must have had incredible reflexes," she explained.
The flight from Montreal had just touched down at approximately 11.35pm local time when it struck the emergency vehicle, which was crossing the runway to attend to an unrelated incident.
The fire truck had received clearance to cross the runway whilst responding to a separate emergency.
A pilot on another aircraft had reported an unusual odour filling the cabin, causing flight attendants to feel unwell.
Controllers appeared to recognise the impending collision only seconds before the crash occurred at around 11.30pm.
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