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.
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.
One local shared on Reddit: ‘El Pasoan here. Nothing strange in the sky and no sign of a major event. City councilman said no one knew of this in advance (including city military leadership), but it has been confirmed that the notice was not sent in error.’
