Image: from Digital Daisy X@DigitalDaisyX
OPEN CHRONICLE | Serving the Truth, Shaping the Future
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
EL PASO, TEXAS — In a move that has stunned local officials and grounded one of the busiest border hubs in the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has abruptly closed the airspace over El Paso and parts of southern New Mexico.
The 10-day shutdown, which went into effect late Tuesday, February 10, classifies the region as “National Defense Airspace.” The order prohibits all commercial, cargo, and general aviation flights, effectively severing air travel for a metropolitan area of nearly 700,000 residents.
🚨 EL PASO JUST GOT LOCKED DOWN
10 full days. No flights in or out.
National Defense Airspace.
FAA says planes that violate can be shot down.
Zero explanation. Zero warning.
This is not a drill. What the hell is happening in El Paso right now? pic.twitter.com/5blNg3W3DF— PortlandPatriots (@PatriotsinPNW) February 11, 2026
“Special Security Reasons”
The FAA issued the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) with almost no advance notice, citing only “special security reasons.” The restriction covers a 10-nautical-mile radius around El Paso International Airport and extends up to 18,000 feet. Notably, the order includes a chilling warning: the U.S. government reserves the right to use “deadly force” against any aircraft deemed an imminent security threat.
Similar, though smaller, restrictions were also reported in New Orleans, where the FAA grounded all Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for the same 10-day period.
Local Leaders Demand Answers
The shutdown has left local and state leaders in the dark. Texas State Representative Vincent Perez noted that such a prolonged closure is unprecedented in American history outside of a major national emergency.
“I have never heard of an American airspace being shut down for 10 days, absent a major emergency,” Perez told reporters.
Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) also confirmed that federal authorities have provided no clear information regarding the nature of the security threat, while local military leadership at Fort Bliss reportedly received no prior warning.
Economic and Travel Chaos
As a critical gateway for cross-border commerce with Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, the closure is expected to cause massive disruptions to the regional economy.
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Grounded Carriers: Major airlines, including Southwest, American, United, and Delta, have been forced to cancel all flights through February 21.
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Cargo Stall: The halt of cargo operations is expected to impact supply chains tied to the “maquiladora” manufacturing plants just across the border.
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Mexican Airspace: The FAA notice explicitly excludes Mexican airspace, though flights approaching El Paso from the south remain unable to land.
The National Context
The El Paso lockdown comes amid a period of heightened domestic tension and aggressive federal activity. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has ramped up enforcement operations along the southern border, and some observers speculate the airspace closure may be linked to large-scale, sensitive deportation or security movements.
With no further guidance from the FAA, travelers are being urged to avoid the airport and monitor official channels for a possible early lifting of the restrictions.