- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
FAA Halts All Flights at El Paso Airport for 10 Days
No flights allowed to or from the airport due to 'special security reasons'
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a 10-day flight restriction order for El Paso International Airport, citing unspecified 'special security reasons'. The order went into effect late Tuesday night and will remain in place until February 20th, grounding all commercial, cargo, and general aviation flights to and from the airport.
Why it matters
El Paso is a major metropolitan area in West Texas, and the airport serves a vast region. The sudden and unexplained shutdown of the airport will significantly disrupt travel and commerce in the area, with the nearest alternative airports being over 35 miles away in Las Cruces, New Mexico and several hours' drive from major Texas cities.
The details
The FAA order applies to a 10-mile radius around the El Paso airport, including the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Aircraft flying above 18,000 feet are exempt from the restrictions. The airport has issued a travel advisory and is waiting for further guidance from the FAA, which has warned that the federal government may use deadly force against any aircraft violating the airspace if it is deemed an 'imminent security threat'.
- The flight restriction order went into effect at 11:30 PM local time on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.
- The order will remain in place until 11:30 PM local time on February 20, 2026.
The players
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The U.S. government agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation.
El Paso International Airport
A major airport serving the El Paso metropolitan area and a large region of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.
Joaquin Castro
A Democratic U.S. Representative from San Antonio, Texas.
Vincent Perez
A Texas State Representative from El Paso.
Alex Torres
A 42-year-old traveler who was expecting to fly from El Paso to New York for business.
What they’re saying
“I have never heard of an American airspace being shutdown for 10 days, absent a major emergency.”
— Vincent Perez, Texas State Representative (nytimes.com)
“They didn't know anything about the airport being closed.”
— Alex Torres (nytimes.com)
What’s next
The FAA has not provided any timeline for when it may lift the flight restriction order or offer more details on the 'special security reasons' behind the shutdown. State and local officials in Texas have expressed surprise and a lack of information about the situation.
The takeaway
The sudden and unexplained closure of a major regional airport like El Paso's highlights the potential for significant disruption to travel and commerce when the federal government imposes such sweeping flight restrictions, even in the absence of a clear public emergency. The situation raises questions about transparency and communication between federal agencies and local authorities.
