FAA Shuts El Paso Airspace for 10 Days, Grounds All Flights Without Notice

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suddenly sealed off the skies around El Paso, Texas, for ten days on the pretext of “special security reasons,” grounding every flight in and out of the region.

The broad edict, which began on February 10, 2026, and concludes on February 20, grounds every flight, including medical evacuation planes, without any exception.

An abrupt shutdown like this has created much confusion amongst the airlines, pilots, and airport officials.

From the reports that have been drawn up so far, it sounds like both the air control and the pilots were taken aback by the announcement, with little or no prior notice of the shutdown ever being made beforehand.

In the FAA’s Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), the zone was declared to be restricted due to its relation to the subject of national defense by the FAA.

The mention reads, “TX. TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS. FEBRUARY 10-20, 2026 LOCAL. PURSUANT TO 49 USC 40103(B)(3), THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) CLASSIFIES THE AIRSPACE DEFINED IN THIS NOTAM AS ‘NTL DEFENSE AIRSPACE’.”

National Defense Airspace Designation

The NOTAM also indicates severe enforcement consequences for non-adherence to the regulations, which indicates the seriousness of the alert.

It warns: “PILOTS WHO DO NOT ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING PROC MAY BE INTERCEPTED, DETAINED, AND INTERVIEWED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT/SECURITY PERSONNEL.”

Further, the FAA indicates that additional fines can be incurred: “A) THE FAA MAY TAKE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, INCLUDING IMPOSING CIVIL PENALTIES AND THE SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF AIRMEN CERTIFICATES; OR B) THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MAY PURSUE CRIMINAL.”

By relying on 49 U.S. Code § 40103(b)(3), the FAA is invoking federal authority to restrict airspace in the interest of national defense.

Yet, the agency has not publicly disclosed specific details on the nature of the security threat or operation that required the unprecedented measure would entail.

The NOC will not normally grant permission for any flight in bad weather.

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There Will Be No Exemptions, Including Medevac

Perhaps the most contentious aspect of the closure is that there are no exemptions.

All categories of aviation activity, commercial passenger services, freight carriers, private aviation, and even emergency medical flights, have been grounded.

This absence of accommodation for medevac operations has raised certain concerns among observers and other aviation stakeholders.

In the social media X, @Wahyutrihadi14 posed a question concerning the overall impact of the decision, saying: “The sudden closure of El Paso airspace for 10 days without prior notice gives us cause for concern regarding public safety planning and information. How would such operations be ensured, and to what extent were emergency planning and passengers’ rights taken into consideration?”

Yet another user, @RagnaQt, while referring to the extent of the move, tweeted: “A 10-day airspace closure is a significant decision. If this is for security reasons, hopefully, more official details will be provided soon to help airlines, pilots, and the public understand the situation clearly.”

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Industry and Public Await Clarity

The air traffic control audio viral videos seem to reflect the confusion as it happened, with pilots apparently asking for clarity from the controllers, who were themselves clarifying the rapidly disseminated NOTAM.

An exercise like this, where airspace closure is conducted over a ten-day blanket closure in a significant U.S. border city, presents a unique case where federal aviation authorities play a crucial role.

El Paso International Airport constitutes a critical transportation infrastructure within West Texas and its environs.

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Information Displayed by FAA Concerning Flights To El Paso. PHOTO/ File