In a dramatic turnaround, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has rescinded its temporary closure of the airspace over El Paso International Airport, allowing all flights to resume just hours after announcing a 10-day ban that had been expected to last through Feb. 20.
The initial restriction, issued late Tuesday, Feb. 10, would have grounded commercial, cargo, and general aviation flights into and out of El Paso, as well as nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico, under what the FAA described as “special security reasons.” That order came with little explanation and caught local officials, travelers, and airlines off guard.
However, in a Wednesday morning update, the FAA said the temporary flight restriction has been lifted and normal flight operations will resume. The agency noted there was no ongoing threat to commercial aviation — a key point that helped clear the way for jets to return to the skies over the border city.
According to some reports citing anonymous U.S. officials, the original closure was tied to unmanned aircraft activity near the border, at one point described by an official as drones allegedly operated by Mexican cartel elements entering U.S. airspace — though details remain limited and unconfirmed by the FAA publicly. After authorities addressed or reassessed the situation, regulators concluded that commercial flights could safely resume.
The sudden reversal relieved concerns among travelers and local leaders who had questioned the lack of warning and transparency around the original decision. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar had urged the FAA to lift the ban quickly, noting there was no evidence of imminent danger to the public.
Airlines that serve El Paso — including Southwest, United, American, and Delta — are expected to restore normal schedules, but passengers are advised to check with carriers for the latest flight status updates.