Flights Paused at El Paso Airport for Special Security Reasons: FAA Restricts Operations

Operations at El Paso International Airport in Texas have come to a standstill due to special security reasons, as directed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Early Wednesday, the FAA announced that flight operations to and from this airport have been halted. The announcement, referred to in aviation terms as a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), restricts pilots from operating aircraft in the affected areas.

The FAA specified that the restriction was a temporary flight measure taken for special security reasons. This airspace restriction, which includes El Paso and the adjacent Santa Teresa, New Mexico community, was implemented at 6:30 a.m. UTC, equivalent to 11:30 p.m. ET. This measure is set to expire at the same time on February 21.

In the announcement, the FAA did not clarify the specifics behind the security reason for imposing this limitation near El Paso, a city bordering Mexico and recorded as the 23rd-largest in terms of population as per the 2020 census. However, the NOTAM designated the airspace as a national defense zone. The directive highlighted that deadly force may be warranted if an aircraft is deemed an imminent security threat. Furthermore, pilots may face interception, detention, and questioning by law enforcement and security officials.

An FAA spokesperson, when approached by NBC News, refrained from providing further details beyond the contents of the NOTAM. Additionally, El Paso International Airport did not immediately issue any more statements when NBC News sought further remarks.

The flight exclusion specifically pertains to airspace over El Paso and does not impact Juárez and Mexican airspace. Despite the temporary halt in operations, El Paso International Airport had served approximately 3.49 million passengers in the initial 11 months of 2025. An advisory shared on social media by the airport confirmed that all types of flights, including commercial, cargo, and general aviation, were grounded. Passengers are advised to check with their specific airlines for the latest information on flight statuses.

Major airlines operating out of El Paso International Airport include Southwest, Delta, United, and American. Notably, an American Airlines flight originating from Chicago touched down at El Paso at 10:57 p.m. local time on Tuesday, marking the final arrival before the airspace closure was enforced, as per flight data from Flightradar24. A private aircraft scheduled to land from Everett, WA, was redirected to land in Las Cruces, New Mexico, considered the nearest U.S. city, due to the airspace restriction. No additional flights were planned for arrival until after 9 a.m. on the following Wednesday.

City Councilmember Chris Canales expressed attempts to seek further details regarding the airport’s closure. In a Facebook post, Canales mentioned that there is no indication of an immediate safety threat. However, he noted that the FAA and federal authorities have not provided explanations, prompting community concerns and assumptions.

“What is particularly concerning,” Canales mentioned, “is the lack of prior notice given to local authorities, airport management, or even local military and air traffic control leadership.” He also raised economic concerns, speculating that a potential 10-day airport closure could result in a $40-50 million or greater economic impact on El Paso.

On Reddit, Canales clarified that the NOTAM was issued without any advance notice to civilian or military leadership, highlighting that the Army shared similar concerns over flight disruptions. The notifications also caught airport personnel off guard.

On the eve of the restriction, conversations between an air traffic controller at the airport and a Southwest Airlines flight crew indicated that the airport had been informed only an hour prior. This exchange was recorded on LiveATC.net, a platform allowing public monitoring of air traffic communications. The air traffic controller mentioned an unexpected Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR), stating, “Just pass it on to Southwest and everybody else, from 0630 for the next 10 days we’re stopped. All ground stop.”

Upon hearing this, the crew of Southwest WN1249 sought confirmation, asking, “So the airport is totally closed?” The controller responded, “Apparently. We just got informed about 30 minutes to an hour ago.”

Henry Austin, a senior editor with NBC News Digital based in London, provides this report. Contributors Jay Blackman, Christiana Corporon, Caroline Radnofsky, and Sara Mhaidli assisted in gathering insights and data.