why is el paso airport closed

El Paso International Airport has been closed to flights because the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a temporary halt to all air traffic there for “special security reasons” and national defense airspace restrictions.

What exactly is happening?

• All commercial, cargo, and general aviation flights to and from El Paso International Airport have been suspended under a temporary flight restriction (TFR).

• The restricted area covers roughly a 10‑mile radius around the airport (including parts of southern New Mexico like Santa Teresa) but does not affect aircraft flying above 18,000 feet.

• The closure began late Tuesday night (local time) and is scheduled to last about 10 days, until around February 20–21, unless authorities change the order.

Why did the FAA close it?

• Officially, the FAA cites only “special security reasons” and has not publicly released detailed specifics.

• Reports describe it as a national defense airspace restriction tied to security concerns along the U.S.–Mexico border near El Paso.

• Some government and media accounts reference military or counter‑drone activity in the region, including operations aimed at neutralizing or testing defenses against hostile or cartel‑linked drones, but key details remain classified or not fully confirmed.

At this point, the publicly stated reason is broad “special security” and national defense concerns, with no full official explanation yet given beyond that.

What this means for travelers

• If you have a flight booked into or out of El Paso (ELP) during the restriction window, airlines are canceling or rerouting flights; you are advised to check directly with your carrier for rebooking or alternate airports.

• Local officials have said they, too, received little notice and are pressing federal authorities for more information, so expect evolving updates rather than a complete explanation right away.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.