The agency cited unspecified ’special security reasons’ for the sweeping suspension that affected all commercial and cargo traffic.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Feb. 11 lifted a temporary suspension of flights to and from El Paso International Airport in Texas, hours after grounding all operations for what it had described as “special security reasons.”
“The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal,” the agency said in a statement.
The restriction had taken effect at 1:30 a.m. ET and was initially set to remain in place through 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 21. The FAA had barred pilots from operating aircraft in the affected airspace, which included areas over El Paso and nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico, though it excluded Mexican airspace. The agency had said the restriction did not apply above 18,000 feet, allowing aircraft to transit over the region at higher altitudes.
While the FAA did not specify the nature of the “special security reasons” behind the original order and did not immediately explain why the restriction was rescinded, the White House told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that Mexican cartel-operated drones had breached U.S. airspace and that the Department of War took action to disable them. A White House official said the FAA and the Department of War subsequently determined there was no threat to commercial aviation.
The temporary grounding halted commercial, cargo, and private aviation operations at the airport. Southwest Airlines said it paused all operations to and from El Paso at the FAA’s direction and notified affected customers. American, United, and Delta also operate flights from the airport.
El Paso International Airport handles roughly 4 million passengers annually and serves as a key gateway for West Texas, southern New Mexico, and northern Mexico. The border city of nearly 700,000 residents forms part of a larger binational metropolitan area alongside Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and is a major hub for cross-border commerce.
The initial restriction had been issued under Title 14 CFR Section 99.7, which authorizes the FAA to implement special security instructions and restrict aircraft operations in U.S. airspace when required for national security.
By Tom Ozimek
