There are big plans in the works to transform LaGuardia Airport from apt punchline to billion-dollar dream—but in the meantime, it's still LaGuardia, where vacation dreams go to die, face down in a bowl of cold nachos at that depressing Southwest Terminal bar. Last night, a pothole in a runway caused heavy delays for air travelers as dozens of planes were stuck waiting to take off.

A reader stuck in Chicago told us that he was trying to fly home, but "we were just told by the captain that there is a ground stop at LGA due to a pothole in the one operational runway. Literally unbelievable... Pray for me."

This is what happens when runway 13 needs potholes fixed at LGA https://t.co/bGjCe64Baf pic.twitter.com/xsUEJOD0zz — Top Aviation Blogs (@gbn87813) March 9, 2016 Pothole closes runway at LGA. 30th in line. Hope they rebuild this stinking airport soon. Can we get a decent sign? pic.twitter.com/OBptuCAXlf — Steve Liesman (@steveliesman) March 9, 2016

Apparently a pilot spotted the pothole; WABC 7 detailed the exchange from air traffic control and the pilot:

"I'm not sure it looks like something completely blew off," a pilot said.

"He is reporting debris on the right side of the runway can we have someone check that out?" ATC said.

"I'm on the 22 deck heading over to the runway now," the pilot said.

"Hold your position, need to get debris off the runway," ATC said. "We need to get this stuff [off] the runway first."

The pothole was apparently two feet by eight feet. But one flier found a silver lining:

Sunset from the only available #LGA runway tonight. pic.twitter.com/CPuAFJqb5l — Liz Goldenberg (@newstruthliz) March 10, 2016

What caused this mess? NBC New York reports, "A plane landing at LaGuardia Airport blew out a chunk of concrete on the runway as it was coming down, and flights were backed up for over an hour as crews repaired the runway, airport sources say."

Damaged runway at LGA repaired, reopened after pothole causes long delays https://t.co/BHzvSSPaIf pic.twitter.com/36HT4qXSdr — NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) March 10, 2016

