The Federal Aviation Administration abruptly grounded all flights to and from El Paso International Airport early Wednesday morning, issuing a sweeping 10-day restriction for what it described only as “special security reasons.”
In a notice to airmen posted on its website, the FAA declared that “no pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by” the stoppage. The order took effect at 1:30 a.m. EST and is set to remain in place until 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 21. The restriction applies to airspace over El Paso, Texas, and the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
Notably, the FAA clarified that the airspace over Mexico is not covered by the notice. El Paso, a city of roughly 680,000 residents, sits along the Rio Grande directly across from the U.S.-Mexico border.
The sudden directive effectively shuts down all commercial, cargo and general aviation flights operating out of El Paso International Airport. Airport officials confirmed the 10-day stoppage in a message posted to Instagram, emphasizing that the FAA’s notice applies across the board.
“Travelers should contact their airlines to get most up-to-date flight status information,” airport officials wrote, urging passengers to check directly with carriers as the situation unfolds.
Southwest Airlines confirmed it has halted operations at the airport in response to the federal order. Lynn Lunsford, a spokesperson for the airline, told NewsNation that Southwest has “paused operations to and from El Paso International Airport.”
“We have notified affected Customers and will share additional information as it becomes available,” Lunsford said. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of its Customers and Employees.”
The airport later told NewsNation that the FAA issued the restriction “on short notice,” adding that staff have “reached out to the FAA, and we are pending additional guidance.” The sudden nature of the shutdown appears to have caught local officials and aviation personnel off guard.
Audio captured by atc.com provides a glimpse into the confusion that followed the announcement. In the recording, an air traffic controller in El Paso informs a Southwest pilot about the sweeping stoppage.
“So the airport’s totally closed?” the pilot asks, seeking clarification after being told of the restriction.
“Apparently, we just got informed about 30 minutes to an hour ago,” the controller responds.
“So for 10 days, you guys are not open,” the pilot replies, expressing disbelief.
“Well I mean, we’ll be here but no air traffic,” the controller answers.
“Ha ha, OK. Thanks for that heads up,” the pilot responds.
The exchange underscores the abruptness of the decision and the uncertainty surrounding it. As of now, the FAA has not publicly elaborated beyond citing “special security reasons” for the action.
With the restriction covering airspace over both El Paso and nearby Santa Teresa, the 10-day grounding is poised to disrupt travel and commerce in a major border region. Passengers and airlines alike are now left awaiting further clarification from federal authorities about what prompted the extraordinary measure — and whether additional guidance will be forthcoming before the order expires on Feb. 21.
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