In a curious move that briefly shut down commercial aviation in a major U.S. border city, the Federal Aviation Administration halted flights in and out of El Paso International Airport before reversing course just hours later.
FAA Abruptly Halts El Paso Flights For “Special Security Reasons,” Then Quickly Reverses
Late Tuesday night, the FAA issued a temporary flight restriction prohibiting aircraft operations within a 10-nautical-mile radius of El Paso International Airport (ELP) up to 18,000 feet. The order, which was set to remain in effect through February 20, 2026, cited “special security reasons” and classified the affected airspace as national defense airspace.
The restriction applied to all commercial, cargo, and general aviation flights operating out of El Paso and nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Pilots were warned that violators could face interception, enforcement action, and possible certificate revocation. The notice also included language referencing the potential use of force against aircraft deemed an imminent security threat.
The abrupt order immediately disrupted operations at an airport that typically handles dozens of daily departures on carriers including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Flights were delayed or canceled as airlines sought clarification and passengers scrambled for updates.
Local officials expressed surprise at the move, noting there had been no advance public warning or explanation for the restriction. Questions quickly emerged about what prompted such a sweeping measure and why it was issued without coordination or context.
Then, in a dramatic turnaround, the FAA lifted the restriction just hours later. Early Wednesday morning, the agency confirmed that normal flight operations could resume and stated there was no ongoing threat to commercial aviation.
Temporary flight restrictions are common around presidential movements, major public events, or emergency situations. However, a sudden and near-total suspension of air traffic over a metropolitan area for an extended period is highly unusual. It appears the flight restrictions were related to aliens Epstein Mexican drone cartels, with a Trump administration official stating:
“Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones. The FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel.”
According to sources familiar with the FAA’s decision, the temporary shutdown of El Paso airspace was tied to operations out of Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss, where military aircraft including drones and helicopters were operating in airspace adjacent to the civilian flight paths serving El Paso International Airport.
It appears the FAA acted after the Department of Defense could not “assure the safety of civilian aircraft in the area” during those operations, effectively leading the agency to restrict flights until the situation could be assessed and cleared. Fort Bliss is not only home for unmanned aircraft operations but also laser countermeasure systems that may have been used against cartel drones and posed a threat to civilian aircraft.
CONCLUSION
The FAA’s abrupt decision to shut down El Paso airspace, followed by a swift reversal, is still shrouded in mystery. If cartel drones did in fact breach U.S. airspace and required countermeasures from Fort Bliss, that is a serious national security matter. But the lack of immediate clarity from federal authorities only amplified confusion for airlines, passengers, and local officials.
When sweeping restrictions are issued without explanation and then rescinded hours later, it raises legitimate questions about coordination between the FAA and the Department of Defense, particularly in border regions where military and civilian operations frequently overlap. The incident may ultimately prove to have been handled appropriately from a security standpoint. Still, transparency matters. When airspace over a U.S. city is classified as national defense airspace overnight, travelers deserve more than a vague reference to “special security reasons.”
What do you make of this odd incident over ELP?
image: US Army
A reminder that no matter what the executive branch calls it, the Department of Defense remains the Department of Defense until the name is changed by congress.
And it’s also still the Gulf of Mexico. There’s gonna be a lot of ‘fixin’ to be done once this mess is finally over.
This was so odd. It makes Department of Defense and this administration look even weaker and more incompetent.
More manufactured crisis material to justify an unwanted military action. If the truth is out there, you will no longer find it from this administration.