Feds end '10-day' closure of El Paso airspace after less than 10 hours

Source: Ars Technica

The Federal Aviation Administration halted flights into and out of El Paso International Airport on Tuesday night at 11:30 pm local time (1:30 am EST Wednesday) and said the restrictions would remain in place for 10 days. In its notice, the FAA also restricted airspace extending in a radius of 10 nautical miles from the airport.

Closure announcement

• The FAA classified the area as “national defense airspace” and warned that the United States government could use “deadly force” against any airborne aircraft.
• No advance notice was given to local officials in El Paso or to statewide authorities, according to reporting from The New York Times.

Lift of restrictions

Less than 10 hours later, and without additional explanation, the FAA ended the restrictions. “The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted,” the agency said on social media. “There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal.”
Source: FAA on X (Twitter).

Background and impact

• El Paso International Airport serves more than 3 million passengers per month.
• According to the 2020 U.S. Census, El Paso is the 22nd most‑populous city in the United States.

Implications

The abrupt closure and equally swift reversal, with no communication to local officials or travelers, raise questions about inter‑agency coordination. If the FAA acted on behalf of another federal body—such as the Department of Defense—the lack of stakeholder notification could undermine confidence in federal management of U.S. airspace.

This story was updated at 9:10 am ET to reflect the most recent statement from the FAA.