what happened in el paso
In El Paso right now, the main thing making news is that all flights in and out of the city have been abruptly halted for about 10 days because of a federal airspace restriction.
Quick Scoop: What Happened in El Paso?
- The FAA issued a sudden “temporary flight restriction” over the El Paso area late Tuesday night, effective from around 11:30 p.m. local time on February 10 until February 20.
- This order shuts down almost all aircraft operations within about a 10‑mile radius of El Paso, including commercial passenger flights, cargo flights, and general aviation (private planes, small charters, etc.).
- El Paso International Airport has announced that all flights are grounded during this period and has told travelers that operations are effectively on hold until the restriction ends.
- The restriction also affects nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico, which shares the same airspace envelope in the FAA notice.
- Aircraft flying above 18,000 feet are not affected by this particular restriction, so high‑altitude overflights can still pass over the region.
- Federal officials have not publicly explained the exact security or safety reason behind the move, which is why the situation is being described as “abrupt” and “unusual.”
- Local authorities and airport officials say they were caught off guard and are seeking clarification from federal agencies, while also warning residents and travelers about major disruption to plans.
Local context
Outside of the airspace shutdown, regular city business and local government activity are continuing: recent city news includes things like infrastructure upgrades, museum reopenings, and traffic safety investigations.
Mini timeline
- Feb 10, late evening: FAA issues a temporary flight restriction over El Paso’s airspace, taking effect around 11:30 p.m. local time.
- Shortly after: El Paso International Airport announces that all commercial, cargo, and general aviation flights are suspended through Feb 20.
- Feb 11 and onward: Local officials and media report significant disruption to travel while waiting for more detail from federal authorities.
Key facts table (HTML)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| What happened? | FAA imposed a temporary flight restriction over El Paso, halting nearly all local air traffic. | [9][5][7]
| When did it start? | Effective about 11:30 p.m. MST on February 10, 2026. | [7][9]
| How long will it last? | Through approximately 11:30 p.m. local time on February 20, 2026 (10 days). | [5][9][7]
| Who is affected? | All commercial, cargo, and general aviation flights to and from El Paso and nearby Santa Teresa, NM, within about a 10‑mile radius. | [9][5][7]
| What’s the reason? | FAA and federal authorities have not publicly disclosed specific security or safety reasons yet. | [5][7][9]
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.