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FAA Closes El Paso Airspace For 10 Days For Unspecified ‘Special Security Reasons’

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halted all flights to and from El Paso International Airport and also closed airspace above a nearby area of New Mexico, citing unspecified “special security reasons.” “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifies the airspace defined in this NOTAM as ‘NTL defense airspace’. Pilots who do not adhere to the following Proc may be intercepted, detained and interviewed by law enforcement/security personnel,” one of two notices published late Tuesday said, using the acronym for “Notice to Airmen.”

Released on 02/11/2026

Transcript

[Narrator] Flights to and from

El Paso International Airport

have been halted for 10 days

under temporary flight restrictions

imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

In two notices published late Tuesday,

the FAA said airspace above El Paso

in a nearby area of New Mexico,

West of Santa Teresa was closed

for special security reasons, without elaborating.

Writing on Instagram, El Paso International Airport

said all flights, including commercial and cargo,

are grounded until February 20th.

El Paso sits on the Mexico US border

across from Sierra Juárez.

The FAA said the notices excluded Mexican airspace.