SMG News Wire
UPDATE: CBS News reports the shutdown was triggered by Mexican cartel drones breaching US airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones.
DEVELOPING STORY: The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered an unprecedented shutdown of the airspace surrounding El Paso International Airport, grounding all incoming and outgoing flights for 10 days in a move officials say is tied to “special security reasons.”
“It’s a complete ground stop … not even medevac are allowed to fly,” an air-traffic controller was heard telling flight crews of the imminent airspace closure Tuesday night, television station KVIA reported.
“Wow,” a flight crew member is heard responding in flight control audio recorded by the website LiveATC.net.
According to a notice posted on the FAA’s website, temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) will be in place over the El Paso airport beginning late Tuesday and lasting through late Feb. 20. The agency did not provide further details about the nature of the security concerns prompting the unprecedented action. The restrictions apply to U.S. airspace and do not include neighboring Mexican airspace.
“El Paso International Airport will have no arriving or departing flights during this time,” airport officials said in a statement posted to Instagram, confirming that the shutdown affects commercial, cargo and general aviation traffic alike.
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Chris Canales, an El Paso city spokesman, told The New York Times that while there was no reason to believe the city is in any “kind of imminent safety threat,” the lack of clarity from the F.A.A. was fueling fear and misinformation. “What’s especially troubling is that there appears to have been no advance notice to local government, airport leadership, or even local Air Traffic Control or local military leadership,” he said in a statement. A grounding of all flights for 10 days could cost the city millions of dollars, he added.
Travelers were urged to contact their airlines directly for the most up-to-date flight information and rebooking options.
The 10-day closure is expected to cause significant disruptions across the region. El Paso, a major border city with a population of nearly 700,000 — and considerably larger when factoring in the surrounding metropolitan area — serves as a critical transportation and economic hub for West Texas, southern New Mexico and northern Mexico.
The airport bills itself as the “gateway” to the region, facilitating business, tourism and cross-border commerce alongside neighboring Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. The two cities form one of the largest binational metro areas along the southern border, with extensive daily travel between the United States and Mexico.
Major carriers including Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines operate regular service through the airport, connecting El Paso to key destinations nationwide. The suspension of all flights — including cargo operations — could ripple through supply chains and regional businesses that rely on air freight.
While the FAA cited “special security reasons” for the temporary flight restrictions, the lack of additional detail has raised questions about what prompted the decision and why such an extended closure is necessary. Historically, TFRs are implemented for presidential travel, major public events or specific security threats, but they typically do not result in a full shutdown of a major metropolitan airport for more than a few hours or days.
It remains unclear whether federal law enforcement or national security agencies are involved.
As of now, travelers planning trips through El Paso are being advised to make alternate arrangements and monitor communications from their airlines. With nearly two weeks of halted air traffic, the closure is poised to have wide-reaching impacts on residents, businesses and cross-border travelers who depend on the airport as a vital regional link.
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