All takeoffs and landings at El Paso International Airport in the Texas city of the United States of America have been halted for “special security reasons.” The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the suspension of all flights without providing further details. The airport is located next to Biggs Army Airfield of the US Army.
“All flights to and from El Paso are grounded, including commercial, cargo and general aviation. The FAA has issued a flight restriction suspending all flights to and from El Paso effective February 10 at 11:30 p.m. (MST) through February 20 at 11:30 p.m. (MST). Travelers should contact their airlines for the most up-to-date information on flight status in El Paso,” the El Paso, Texas office said.
El Paso Airport said the restrictions were issued “at short notice.” The airport was now awaiting further instructions from the FAA, The New York Times reported. Not only at the El Paso airport, all flights were banned from flying over the nearby community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico, the FAA said.
In its announcement, the FAA classified El Paso’s airspace as “(National) Defense airspace, giving pilots notice that anyone who violates the airspace may be apprehended, detained and questioned by law enforcement. Additional action will also be taken against pilots if they do not comply with the restrictions.”
What flyers should know about restrictions in El Paso?
So far we know from media reports that the order to close the airport airspace and proximity to the community of Santa Teresa in a very short time. Also read | FAA suspends flights at 40 US airports: How much will it affect fliers? United Airlines, American Airlines and others are responding
Flights have been suspended since February 10 at 11:30 p.m. local time, the airport operator said in a travel advisory posted on its official Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The restriction on all flights will remain until February 21 and will cover a radius of about 10 nautical miles from the airport, excluding Mexican airspace, the agency added. It also applies to altitudes up to 17,999 feet.
According to the FAA, all flights to and from the city are suspended.
The airport handled 3.49 million passengers in the first 11 months of 2025, according to its website. Major US airlines fly there including Southwest, Delta, United and American.
“No pilots may operate aircraft in areas covered by this NOTAM,” the FAA said in a statement.