FAA Abruptly Closes and Reopens El Paso Airspace, Causing Chaos

The federal agency cited 'special security reasons' for the temporary shutdown, which lasted less than 8 hours before being lifted.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) unexpectedly closed the airspace over El Paso, Texas and southern New Mexico on Wednesday morning, disrupting flights and raising questions from local officials and lawmakers. The FAA initially imposed a 10-day stoppage, citing 'special security reasons', but reversed the decision less than 8 hours later, saying there was no threat to commercial aviation. The abrupt closure and reopening caused chaos and confusion in the community, with the mayor and members of Congress criticizing the FAA's lack of communication and coordination.

Why it matters

The sudden airspace closure over a major city like El Paso, without prior notice or explanation, highlights concerns about transparency and accountability in federal decision-making, especially when it comes to actions that significantly impact local communities and travelers. The incident also raises questions about coordination between different government agencies and the potential threats, real or perceived, that may have prompted the FAA's initial order.

The details

The FAA issued a notice on Tuesday night that the airspace over El Paso and the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico would be closed starting at 1:30am EST on Wednesday, February 11th. The order cited 'special security reasons' and was set to last 10 days. However, less than 8 hours later, the FAA reversed the decision and lifted all restrictions, stating there was 'no threat to commercial aviation'. Reports indicate the initial closure may have been due to the Defense Department testing new anti-drone technology near the Fort Bliss Army base, which the FAA implemented without properly notifying local officials or other government agencies.

  • The FAA issued the airspace closure notice at 10:32pm EST on Tuesday, February 10th.
  • The airspace restrictions went into effect at 1:30am EST on Wednesday, February 11th.
  • The FAA lifted the airspace closure less than 8 hours later, around 8:00am EST on Wednesday, February 11th.

The players

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

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

Renard Johnson

The mayor of El Paso, Texas, who criticized the FAA's lack of communication and coordination with local officials.

Veronica Escobar

A Democratic U.S. Representative whose district includes most of El Paso, and who expressed concerns about the airspace closure.

Gabe Vasquez

A Democratic U.S. Representative whose district covers southern New Mexico, and who criticized the lack of transparency from the administration.

U.S. Northern Command

The unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces responsible for aerospace, homeland defense, and defense support of civil authorities.

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What they’re saying

“This should have never happened. You cannot restrict airspace over a major city without coordinating with the city, the airport, the hospitals, the community leadership. That failure to communicate is unacceptable.”

— Renard Johnson, Mayor of El Paso (yourerie.com)

“The highly consequential decision by the FAA to shut down the El Paso Airport for 10 days is unprecedented and resulted in significant concern in the community.”

— Veronica Escobar, U.S. Representative (yourerie.com)

“We simply can't operate under this administration with no transparency or accountability for their actions.”

— Gabe Vasquez, U.S. Representative (yourerie.com)

What’s next

The FAA, Defense Department, and other government agencies involved are expected to provide more details in the coming days on the coordination and decision-making process that led to the temporary airspace closure and subsequent reversal.

The takeaway

The abrupt and poorly communicated airspace closure over El Paso has raised serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and interagency coordination within the federal government, especially when actions taken can significantly disrupt local communities and travelers. This incident underscores the need for improved communication and collaboration between federal agencies and state/local officials when addressing perceived security threats or implementing major operational changes.