FAA Slams Shut Airspace Over El Paso & Santa Teresa for 10 Days
The FAA has issued a rare, emergency security NOTAM grounding all flights at El Paso International Airport and closing Santa Teresa airspace until February 20. Citing "special security reasons," officials have designated the region National Defense Airspace where deadly force is authorized, leaving local leaders stunned.
The FAA has issued a major security NOTAM, grounding all flights in and out of El Paso International Airport and closing airspace over Santa Teresa, New Mexico, for the exact same time window and altitude limits.
The restrictions kicked in late Tuesday (Feb 10 at 11:30 PM MST) and run through Feb 20 at 11:30 PM MST. That means no commercial, cargo, or general aviation flights for a full 10 days.Officials cite “special security reasons.”
The airspace is now designated National Defense Airspace, with stern warnings: unauthorized aircraft can be intercepted, detained and deadly force is authorized if there’s an imminent threat.
Local leaders in El Paso say they got zero advance notice.
This kind of full shutdown at a major U.S. airport is extremely rare, the last ones on this scale were right after 9/11.The Santa Teresa closure covers a large area west of the town, right along the border near Fort Bliss.No further details released yet.
Travelers: check with your airline immediately as massive cancellations expected.