FAA Grounds El Paso Flights for 10 Days on Security Concerns

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary flight restriction late on February 10, 2026, grounding all incoming and outgoing flights at El Paso International Airport in Texas and nearby areas in southern New Mexico for 10 days, citing special security reasons.

The restriction, effective from 11:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on February 10 until 11:30 p.m. on February 20, prohibits all aircraft operations within a 10-nautical-mile radius of the airport, from the surface up to 17,999 feet above mean sea level. It applies to commercial, cargo, and general aviation flights, designating the airspace as national defense airspace under federal authority. Pilots who violate the order risk interception, detention, or interviews by law enforcement, and the notice warns that the U.S. government may employ deadly force against any aircraft posing an imminent security threat. The restriction excludes Mexican airspace but extends to areas near Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

El Paso International Airport confirmed the closure in a statement, noting that the FAA provided short notice. "Airport staff has reached out to the agency for further guidance," the airport said. All flights to...