In a surprising and unusually broad move, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has halted all air traffic to and from El Paso International Airport for 10 days, citing unspecified “special security reasons.”
The restrictions, issued late on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, took effect at 11:30 p.m. local time (MST) and will remain in place until February 20. They cover the airspace over El Paso, Texas, and the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico. All flights — commercial, cargo, and general aviation — are prohibited within a roughly 10-nautical-mile radius of the airport, from the ground up to 17,999 feet. The order does not apply to Mexican airspace.
The FAA notices do not provide details on the nature of the security concerns, but they include a stark warning: the federal government “may use deadly force” against any aircraft that violates the restricted airspace and is deemed an “imminent security threat.”
El Paso International Airport serves a large region spanning West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. The sudden shutdown has left travelers scrambling, with the airport advising passengers to contact their airlines for rebooking options. Alternative airports are limited, and driving to major hubs like Dallas, San Antonio, or Houston can take 7–10 hours.
Local officials appeared caught off guard. U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) said he had “no clear answer,” while Texas State Representative Vincent Perez (D-El Paso) noted he had “never heard of an American airspace being shutdown for 10 days, absent a major emergency.” The airport described the order as arriving “on short notice” and said it is awaiting further guidance from the FAA.
This is a developing story with no immediate explanation from federal authorities. The move stands out for both its scale and lack of transparency in a major U.S. metropolitan area (El Paso ranks as the nation’s 23rd-largest city).