El Paso International Airport
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Citing a “special security” order, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration abruptly halted all flights to and from El Paso International Airport in Texas for 10 days starting Wednesday, then lifted the order hours later.
The FAA did not immediately provide a safety reason for the sudden stop. The airport is located next to Biggs Army Airfield and near the Mexican border, approximately 19 miles from Juarez, Mexico. The Department of Defense referred questions regarding the nature of the security issue to the FAA.
Flights will be suspended until late February 20, and the ban will apply to a 10 nautical mile area around the airport.
The FAA regularly shuts down airports due to weather and traffic conditions, but a security issue such as a de facto airspace closure for such an extended period of time is highly unusual.
Texas Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar, whose district includes much of El Paso, called the sudden closure of airspace “unprecedented” and said, “Based on the information my office and I gathered overnight and early this morning, there is no immediate threat to the community or surrounding areas.”
“My office, the city of El Paso, and anyone involved in airport operations were not notified in advance,” she said in a statement. “We urge the FAA to immediately lift the temporary flight restrictions in place in the El Paso area.”
EL PASO, TEXAS – DECEMBER 25: Signs at El Paso International Airport (ELP) on December 25, 2025 in El Paso, Texas.
Kirby Lee | Getty Images News | Getty Images
The airport served approximately 3.5 million passengers in the first 11 months of 2025. southwest airlines, delta airlines, american airlines, united airlines and frontier airlinesaccording to airport data.
There are 1,314 departures scheduled at El Paso Airport this month, according to aviation data firm Cirium.
United Airlines has waived change fees for customers who need to change their flights due to airspace closures. Southwest Airlines said it has contacted the affected travelers.
“Nothing is more important to Southwest Airlines than the safety of our customers and employees,” the airline said.
