The Federal Aviation Administration has lifted a rare 10-day flight restriction at El Paso International Airport that halted all commercial, cargo and general aviation operations. The temporary ban, which began February 10 and covered a 10-mile radius around the city, was issued for "special security reasons" without further explanation. El Paso serves as the 23rd-largest U.S. city and handled 3.49 million passengers in the first 11 months of 2025.

Travelers faced significant disruption as airlines including Southwest, Delta, United and American canceled flights and struggled to notify passengers. Many travelers, like Noah Velasquez who was headed to New York City, learned of cancellations only after arriving at the airport. Airport staff worked to contact the FAA for guidance while commercial airlines operating out of El Paso were notified of the restriction, which applied to all airspace from ground level to nearly 18,000 feet.

The airspace closure, similar to post-9/11 security measures, created confusion and uncertainty for thousands of passengers. The FAA notice warned that pilots who did not comply could face interception, detention, and even deadly force if deemed an imminent security threat. While the restriction has been lifted as of February 11, the incident highlights the significant impact that rare federal airspace closures can have on major U.S. transportation hubs.