The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has closed the airspace surrounding the Texas border town of El Paso for 10 days. Local authorities, including the El Paso International Airport and the City of El Paso government, confirmed that no flights will take off or land from Tuesday at 11:30 PM local time until February 20 at 11:30 PM.
City Council member Chris Canales, representing an area near El Paso, remarked that local authorities received no prior notice or explanation for this closure. The FAA stated that the restrictions were implemented for 'special security reasons'.
Such long-term airspace closures are uncommon; the FAA's recent practices demonstrate a significant reduction in the average duration of airspace restrictions. The closure encompasses a 10-mile radius around El Paso, affecting parts of southern New Mexico.
Canales added that the abrupt announcement has caused some local residents to panic, given El Paso's unique geographical position adjacent to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and the strategic U.S. Army installations nearby, including Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range, the largest overland missile testing facility in the U.S.
All flights from El Paso International Airport, including commercial, cargo, and general aviation, are grounded. Passengers are advised to contact their airlines for up-to-date flight information, as uncertainty surrounds the reasons behind this unprecedented airspace closure.
