The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice on Wednesday, suspending all flights to and from El Paso International Airport in Texas due to “special security reasons.” The airport, situated near the U.S. military’s Biggs Army Airfield and across the border from Juarez, Mexico, initially announced a 10-day flight suspension starting just before midnight on Feb. 11 via Instagram.
After the airspace closure over El Paso, the FAA lifted the restrictions before 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, affirming that there was no threat to commercial aviation and all flights would resume as usual. The decision to close the airspace was made over concerns that a laser-based counterdrone system being tested by the U.S. army near Fort Bliss could endanger air traffic.
The White House was taken by surprise by the El Paso airspace closure, leading to a swift response from law enforcement agencies to investigate the situation. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the closure to a drone incursion by a Mexican drug cartel, even though drone sightings near airports typically result in brief traffic pauses rather than extended closures.
The closure left multiple aircraft from major airlines like Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines stranded at the airport, which caters to around four million passengers annually. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson criticized the lack of communication from the FAA to local officials before shutting down the airspace, emphasizing that the incident should not have occurred.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed unawareness of drones being used on the U.S. border and stated that Mexican defense and navy secretaries would meet with U.S. Northern Command officials in Washington for discussions on sovereignty defense. El Paso, with a population of approximately 680,000 residents, is the 23rd-largest city in the U.S. and hosted 3.49 million passengers in the first 11 months of 2025.
The FAA’s handling of the situation drew criticism from industry consultant Bob Mann, questioning the lack of a comprehensive explanation. Closing airspace over an American city is a rare occurrence, typically happening nationwide only after significant events like the 9/11 attacks. The FAA had previously cautioned airlines about flying over certain regions due to potential military activities. Tensions escalated between the U.S. and regional leaders following military actions in the southern Caribbean and Venezuela, leading to heightened concerns and responses from both sides.