El Paso flights suspended for 10 days “for special security reasons.”

The Federal Aviation Administration has closed the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas, halting all flights to and from the airport for the next 10 days. No explanation was given for the closure, other than a vague reference to “special security reasons.”

The closure was announced late on February 10 in A Notice on FAA websiteIt is valid until February 20. A Second notice A similar closure is listed for nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Airspace is included in a 10-mile radius around El Paso Airport, although flights above 18,000 feet will not be affected, as will Mexican airspace.

El Paso operates flights from major U.S. carriers including Southwest, Delta, United, and American. New York Times Reports The Southwest will be most affected by the closure, with 480 flights scheduled to take place during the ten-day period. An airport spokesman, who did not give his name, told… times The closure was issued “within short notice,” and in A Social media sharing Passengers are asked to contact their airlines for more information.

“From what my office and I were able to gather overnight and early this morning, there is no immediate threat to the community or surrounding areas,” El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar said. Series of posts on X. “No prior notice was provided to my office, the city of El Paso, or anyone involved in airport operations. We have urged the FAA to lift the temporary flight restrictions imposed on the El Paso area.”