EL PASO, Texas — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued late-night notices Tuesday closing airspace over El Paso and parts of southern New Mexico for 10 days, halting all flights in and out of El Paso International Airport.
The temporary flight restriction, known as a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM), took effect at 11:30 p.m. Mountain Time and is scheduled to remain in place until Feb. 20 at 11:30 p.m. The restriction covers a 10-nautical-mile radius around the airport, extending from the ground up to 17,000 feet. It includes El Paso, Fort Bliss, and a large portion of southern New Mexico west of Santa Teresa.
According to the FAA notice, all aircraft operations — commercial, cargo, military, medevac, and general aviation — are prohibited during the restriction. Pilots who fail to comply could face interception and detention, and the notice warns that deadly force may be used if an aircraft poses an “imminent security threat.”
City officials said the order came with little warning. El Paso International Airport confirmed that all flights are canceled and advised travelers to contact airlines for updates. FAA officials have not publicly explained the reason for the action.
A source familiar with the situation told El Paso Matters that such a broad security-based airspace shutdown over a major U.S. city has not occurred since the days following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
The restricted zone does not extend into Mexican airspace, according to FAA information.
Sources
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