El Paso Airport Suspends Flights for 10 Days over Security Concerns, FAA Reports
Flights at El Paso International Airport in Texas have been suspended for ten days due to heightened security concerns. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) detailing the restrictions, which took effect at 6:30 a.m. UTC (11:30 p.m. ET) on February 11. The restrictions are set to last until February 21, ending at the same hour.
Details of the Suspension
The temporary flight restrictions apply to El Paso and the adjacent community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico. This area has been designated as national defense airspace. The FAA indicated that aircraft posing an imminent security threat could be met with deadly force. Additionally, pilots may be intercepted and detained for questioning by law enforcement.
Impact on Travelers
- All flights—commercial, cargo, and general aviation—are grounded.
- Travelers are advised to contact their airlines for the latest flight status.
- The airport managed 3.49 million passengers from January to November 2025.
Major airlines operating from El Paso International, such as Southwest, Delta, United, and American Airlines, are impacted. The last recorded flight to land before the restrictions began was an American Airlines flight from Chicago, which arrived at 10:57 p.m. local time on February 10.
Next Steps for Flight Operations
The next scheduled flight was supposed to be a private plane arriving from Everett, Washington, at 1:13 a.m. on February 11. However, that flight was rerouted to Las Cruces, New Mexico, the nearest available airport. As of Wednesday morning, no further flights were scheduled to land until after 9 a.m.
The FAA has yet to provide additional comments regarding the situation. Travelers and airlines are encouraged to stay informed as this story develops.
