FAA Lifts Flight Restrictions Over El Paso and New Orleans After Brief Closure

The airspace closure was instituted and then lifted within hours, raising questions about the reasons behind it.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) abruptly instituted and then lifted a 10-day airspace closure over El Paso, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana just hours later. The initial closure, which went into effect on February 10th, was described as being for "Special Security Reasons" but a White House official later attributed it to Mexican drug cartel drones breaching U.S. airspace.

Why it matters

The sudden and unexplained closure of airspace over two major U.S. cities is highly unusual, with no precedent since the nationwide shutdown after 9/11. It raises concerns about potential threats to aviation security and the government's response, as well as the transparency around such decisions that can significantly disrupt travel and commerce.

The details

The FAA originally instituted the 10-day airspace closure through February 21st, but lifted it after just a few hours. A White House official stated that the closure was due to Mexican drug cartel drones breaching U.S. airspace, and that the Department of War had taken action to disable the drones. However, the official reason posted on the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) was simply "Temporary flight restrictions for Special Security Reasons."

  • The airspace closure went into effect on February 10th at 11:30pm local time.
  • The closure was originally set to last through February 21st.
  • The FAA lifted the airspace restrictions just a few hours after instituting them.

The players

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation.

White House Official

An unnamed representative from the Executive Office of the President who provided an explanation for the airspace closure.

Department of War

The U.S. government agency responsible for national defense, which the White House official said had taken action to disable the Mexican drug cartel drones.

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What they’re saying

“Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace. The Dept. of War took action to disable the drones. The FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel.”

— White House Official (NewsNation)

The takeaway

The abrupt and unexplained closure and reopening of airspace over major U.S. cities raises serious questions about aviation security, government transparency, and the potential threats facing the country. It underscores the need for clear communication and justification from authorities when taking such drastic measures that can significantly disrupt travel and commerce.