Air traffic over El Paso is returning to normal after U.S. aviation authorities lifted a temporary airspace closure on Wednesday. The Federal Aviation Administration said commercial flight operations can resume fully and emphasized that there was no threat to civilian aircraft.
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All arrivals and departures at El Paso International Airport in Texas were temporarily suspended early Wednesday due to what the Federal Aviation Administration described as “special security reasons.”
The FAA did not immediately provide additional details about the nature of the security issue, but confirmed that flight operations had been paused as a precaution.
In a notice issued to aviators, the FAA stated, “No pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this NOTAM,” referring to the formal Notice to Airmen. The agency said the restriction was being put in place due to “temporary flight restrictions for Special Security Reasons.”
The flight limits covering the skies above El Paso and nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico, took effect at 6:30 a.m. UTC, which corresponds to 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The notice states that the restrictions will remain in place until the same time on Feb. 21.
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Officials have not provided further details about the reason for the move. El Paso sits along the U.S.-Mexico border and, according to the 2020 census, ranks as the 23rd largest city in the country.
The notice also indicates that the affected zone has been designated as national defense airspace. It warns that deadly force could be used against an aircraft if it is determined to “poses and imminent security threat.”
The NOTAM further states that pilots operating in the area “may be intercepted, detained and interviewed” by law enforcement or security authorities.
El Paso International Airport, which served 3.49 million passengers during the first 11 months of 2025, acknowledged the situation in a travel advisory posted on social media. The airport said that all flights, “including commercial, cargo and general aviation,” had been halted.
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“Travelers should contact their airlines to get most up-to-date flight status information,” the advisory stated.
Several major U.S. carriers operate out of El Paso International Airport, including Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines, connecting the West Texas city to destinations across the country.
Flight data shows that an American Airlines service from Chicago touched down at El Paso International at 10:57 p.m. local time Tuesday, making it the final arrival before the airspace was shut, according to tracking site Flightradar24.
The next inbound aircraft, a private jet traveling from Everett, Washington, had been due at 1:13 a.m., but was rerouted to Las Cruces, New Mexico, the closest U.S. airport, the platform reported. No additional arrivals were listed until after 9 a.m. Wednesday.