Texas Airport Suspends All Flights for 10 Days After Security Alert

An airport in Texas briefly grounded all flights for a planned 10-day period after authorities imposed a national security-related flight restriction.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary order blocking all air traffic to and from El Paso International Airport, effective from late on February 10 until February 20, citing unspecified “special security reasons.”

Under the restriction, the airspace around El Paso and parts of nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico, was designated as national defence airspace. The FAA warned that pilots who ignored the limitations could be intercepted, detained, or questioned, and that the government could use force if an aircraft was judged to pose a credible threat.

Airport officials said all scheduled commercial, cargo, and general aviation flights were grounded and urged travellers to contact their airlines for updates. Local staff also said they were awaiting further details from the FAA.

However, the unprecedented restriction — one of the most significant airspace measures in decades — was lifted just hours later after federal officials determined there was no ongoing danger to commercial aviation.