Editor’s note: The temporary flight ban has been lifted since Wednesday morning, February 11. Click here for latest updates.
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight ban that halts all flights from El Paso and neighboring Santa Teresa, New Mexico, city officials said.
The ban prohibits all aircraft operations, including commercial, cargo and general aviation flights, from 11:30 a.m. MST on February 10 until 11:30 a.m. MST on February 20. The ban was issued for “special safety reasons,” according to an FAA notice, a move rare for an airport in a major U.S. city.
El Paso is the 23rd largest city in the United States, and the total airspace closure is expected to cause substantial disruption to the national aviation network.
At 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 11, El Paso International Airport appeared almost deserted. Staff at the site said they were unsure what caused all flights to be halted.
Noah Velasquez, a resident of the Lower Valley, was scheduled to leave for New York City at 7 a.m. Like many passengers, he was notified at midnight that his flight had been canceled.
Velasquez said he and other passengers were the first to alert American Airlines to the situation at the El Paso airport.
“American Airlines wasn’t even notified,” Velasquez said. “We told them. It’s so confusing. I don’t even know what’s going on.”
The notice, in part, reads: “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifies the airspace defined in this note as ‘NTL Defense Airspace. Pilots who do not comply with the following. Interviewed by law enforcement/security personnel may also take the following additional actions against pilots who do not comply with RQMNTs or any expert. NOTAM.”
It states that the FAA can take administrative action and use “lethal force against airborne acft, if it is determined that the ACFT poses an imminent security threat.”
The boycott does not affect Juarez and Mexican airspace.
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The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight ban that halts all flights from El Paso and neighboring Santa Teresa, New Mexico. It prohibits all aircraft operations, including commercial, cargo and general aviation flights, from 11:30 a.m. MST on February 10 to 11:30 a.m. MST on February 20.
The FAA notice did not explain why the closure order was issued. Information shared on El Paso International Airport’s social media accounts matches the details released by the city about the ban.
The city of El Paso released a statement on the ban at 12:35 a.m. Wednesday, February 11.
“Airport personnel have reached out to the FAA, and we are awaiting further instructions.” According to the city’s statement. “In the meantime, commercial airlines operating out of El Paso have been notified of the ban, which appears to be security-related. Passengers are encouraged to contact their airlines for the latest information on their flight status.”
The ban covers a 10-mile zone around El Paso and applies to all airspace from the ground to about 18,000 feet. Under the ban, planes are not allowed to fly in the area unless they receive special authorization from federal authorities.
New and creative lighting fixtures are installed at El Paso International Airport on August 7, 2025.
El Paso International Airport officials said they have contacted the FAA and are awaiting further guidance. Commercial airlines operating out of El Paso have been notified of the ban.
Passengers are encouraged to contact their airlines for the latest information on flight status and rebooking options.
This closure of the airspace in El Paso is similar to government actions following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on several US civilian and military sites.
Minutes after that attack, the FAA banned all outbound flights and ordered all planes in the air to land at the nearest airport. El Paso International Airport has canceled about 70 departing flights. Seven planes landed at the El Paso airport, carrying a total of more than 700 passengers. El Paso Times records.
El Paso airport travelers seek explanation for closure
The deserted airport in the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 11, was little more than a waypoint for travelers seeking answers about their plans.
At 2:30 a.m., only a handful of people stood in line at the airline counters, many of them unstaffed and dark. The calm provided little warning of disruption ahead, as thousands of El Paso travelers would soon learn that all flights were grounded for 10 days.
The quiet presence of employees, passengers and security personnel underscored the widespread uncertainty: No one was told why the closure had been ordered.
El Paso, Texas Airport Information
The airport handled 3.49 million passengers in the first 11 months of 2025. Major US airlines serve the airport, including Southwest, Delta, United and American. Airlines connect to major hubs in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Houston and Denver.
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
This article originally appeared in the El Paso Times: El Paso Airport News: FAA Grounds All Flights Under Rare Airspace Order
