A temporary flight ban has grounded all flights to and from El Paso, a major US airspace north of the US-Mexico border.
The order, issued by officials late Tuesday, covers a ten-mile-wide area roughly five miles southwest of the city, from the ground up to 18,000 feet. It remains in effect until 11.30pm MT on February 20.
The airport describes itself as the gateway to West Texas, southern New Mexico and northern Mexico. Southwest, United, American and Delta all operate flights there, among others.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cited ‘special security reasons’ for the unprecedented move, designating the area a national defense zone. As of Wednesday morning, no specific reason had been given for the closure.
Pilots who fail to follow the restrictions could be stopped, questioned or detained by law enforcement or security personnel.
A source briefed by the FAA told CNN that the sudden flight ban was driven by military operations from Biggs Army Air Field at Fort Bliss.
‘The FAA acted after the Defense Department could not assure civilian flight safety,’ they said.
As the 23rd-largest city in the nation, El Paso’s airspace shutdown is set to ripple through the national flight network, causing widespread disruption.
The restricted airspace is a 10-mile-wide area centered roughly five miles southwest of El Paso, extending from the ground up to 18,000 feet
El Paso International Airport said in a statement: ‘The FAA, on short notice, issued a temporary flight restriction halting all flights to and from El Paso.
‘Commercial airlines operating out of El Paso are being informed of the restriction, which appears to be security-related.’
The last time US airspace was shut down for national security was after the 9/11 attacks.
The FAA also temporarily closed airspace over New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, but that was due to storm damage.
Unlike those previous restrictions, the El Paso closure blocks all flights over the city, including police and medical helicopters, a move rarely, if ever, seen in modern US. aviation.
El Paso International Airport handled more than four million travelers in 2024, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
Major airlines, including Southwest, United, American and Delta, operate flights at the airport, and the nearby US Army base, Fort Bliss, sits less than three miles away.
At the direction of the FAA, Southwest has temporarily paused all operations to and from El Paso.
El Paso International Airport handled more than four million travelers in 2024, the most recent year with published statistics
Southwest Airlines is among several carriers that operate out of El Paso
In a statement, the airline said it has notified affected passengers and will share updates as more information becomes available.
‘Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees,’ the statement said.
United Airlines announced that travelers with flights to or from El Paso during the airspace shutdown can adjust their plans without incurring change fees or fare differences.
The waiver applies to new flights booked between February 21 and February 28, the airline confirmed.
Veronica Escobar, a congresswoman who represents El Paso, said the FAA’s move to shut down the El Paso airport for 10 days was ‘unprecedented.’
‘From what my office and I have been able to gather overnight and early this morning, there is no immediate threat to the community or surrounding areas,’ she said in a statement.
‘We have urged the FAA to lift the Temporary Flight Restrictions placed on the El Paso area. I will continue to make information public as I learn it.’
El Paso, a border city with a population of nearly 700,000, and larger when including the surrounding metro area, is a hub of cross-border commerce with neighboring Ciudad Juarez in Mexico.
The flight restrictions do not affect Mexican airspace or planes flying above 18,000 feet.
The last commercial flight to land before the shutdown was an American Airlines flight from Chicago, which touched down at 10.57pm, according to NBC News.
A private plane from Everett, Washington, is scheduled to arrive at 1.13am. Wednesday was diverted to the smaller Las Cruces International Airport.
El Paso City Council member Chris Canales said local officials were not given any advance notice of the restriction.
‘What’s especially troubling is that there appears to have been no advance notice to local government, airport leadership, or even local Air Traffic Control or local military leadership,” he said in a statement.
A grounding of all flights for 10 days could cost the city millions of dollars, he added
