FAA Grounds El Paso Airport Flights for 10 Days: Live Updates
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed a flight restriction on El Paso International Airport for ten days due to security concerns. This unexpected decision took effect at 11:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday and will last until 11:30 p.m. on February 20.
Flight Restrictions Overview
The FAA’s directive prohibits all flights within a 10-mile radius of the airport, including the nearby community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico. However, aircraft flying above 18,000 feet are exempt from this restriction.
Details of the FAA Announcement
- Effective Date: March 8, 2023, 11:30 p.m. local time
- End Date: February 20, 2023, 11:30 p.m. local time
- Grounded Flights: Commercial, cargo, and general aviation flights
- Security Warning: FAA warned of the potential use of deadly force against aircraft posing an imminent threat
Responses and Reactions
Local officials expressed surprise at the sudden announcement. El Paso’s airport management advised passengers to check with their airlines for updated flight information. Many travelers reported confusion, as some airlines were unaware of the airport’s closure upon their arrival.
Press coverage captured accounts from travelers, including Alex Torres and her son Noah Velasquez. Torres was set to fly to New York for business but learned of the groundings only upon reaching the airport, where officials were similarly uninformed about the situation.
Context and Significance
El Paso International Airport is crucial for air travel in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. It ranks as the 23rd most populous city in the U.S. and facilitated over 3.5 million travelers as of November 2022. The airport provides direct flights to major destinations like Los Angeles, Denver, Houston, and Atlanta.
Air Traffic and Nearby Airports
The nearest airport is in Las Cruces, New Mexico, located approximately 35 miles away. That airport is currently serviced only by Advanced Air. El Paso is also roughly a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Midland-Odessa, seven hours from San Antonio, nine hours from Dallas, and ten hours from Houston.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available. For the latest updates, visit Filmogaz.com.
