FAA lifts El Paso airspace closure hours after imposing 10-day flight ban

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted a temporary airspace closure over El Paso, Texas, on February 11, 2026, just hours after imposing it. The regulator had grounded all flights to and from El Paso International Airport starting late February 10 for “special security reasons”, with the restriction initially set to remain in place for 10 days, until February 20.

In a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the FAA said, “The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal.”

The rare move disrupted passenger travel, cargo operations and general aviation activity, triggering confusion and criticism.

Authorities had warned that pilots violating the restriction could be intercepted and detained. Government agencies could also use deadly force if an aircraft was deemed an “imminent security threat”.

Earlier, El Paso city officials confirmed that all flights at El Paso International Airport had been cancelled.

“The FAA, on short notice, issued a temporary flight restriction halting all flights to and from El Paso and our neighbouring community, Santa Teresa, NM,” the city said, adding that it was awaiting further guidance and advising travellers to contact their airlines for updates.

The closure covered a 10-nautical-mile radius around the airport, extending from the surface up to 17,000 feet, encompassing El Paso and Fort Bliss.

The restricted area included most of El Paso County and parts of southern New Mexico, but excluded Mexican airspace and Santa Teresa Airport.