The sudden restriction isolates a major U.S. city from air travel, with officials offering few details about the threat.
The Federal Aviation Administration has halted all flights to and from El Paso International Airport for 10 days, citing unspecified “special security reasons” in a late-night order that surprised state and local officials.
The flight restriction took effect at 11:30 p.m. local time Tuesday and will remain in place until Feb. 20. It applies to a 10-mile radius around El Paso, including neighboring Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Aircraft flying above 18,000 feet are exempt.
No further explanation has been publicly provided.
The airport confirmed that all commercial, cargo, and general aviation flights have been grounded. Travelers were advised to contact airlines directly, though some passengers reported that airline representatives were initially unaware of the closure.
In a statement, the F.A.A. warned that the federal government “may use deadly force” against aircraft violating the restricted airspace if deemed an imminent security threat.
Local officials appeared caught off guard. Texas State Representative Vincent Perez said he had “never heard of an American airspace being shut down for 10 days, absent a major emergency.”
The airport serves the 23rd-largest city in the United States and handles over 1,000 scheduled flights during the affected period, according to aviation data firm Cirium. Southwest Airlines, the airport’s largest carrier, confirmed it has paused operations in compliance with the order. United Airlines has issued travel waivers for impacted passengers.
Though the airport is not a major national hub, the shutdown could significantly disrupt travel in West Texas and eastern New Mexico, where alternative airports are hundreds of miles away.
For now, the central question remains unanswered:
What security concern was serious enough to ground an entire American airport for 10 days?
