Citing “special security reasons,” all flights in and out have been halted at El Paso International Airport for the next 10 days by the FAA.
The move went into effect at 11:30pm on Tuesday evening local time, and will remain in effect until 11:30pm on February 20.
The restriction encompasses an approximately 10-mile radius around the city, to include the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The restriction does not apply to aircraft flying above 18,000 feet. The FAA stated that the federal government may use deadly force if any aircraft violating the airspace is deemed “an imminent security threat.”
There are approximately 1,000 flights scheduled in those ten days. For context, about 1,000 flights are in and out of New York airports every day. But there is no question this would have a big effect on the local economy and could cost the city millions of dollars.
Representative Joaquin Castro, a Democrat who represents San Antonio, said he had no idea what was going on. “Sorry, I don’t have some clear answer,” Mr. Castro said. When asked if this was surprising, he simply said, “Yes.”
Texas State Rep. Vincent Perez of El Paso said, “I don’t have any information on that,” adding, “I have never heard of an American airspace being shutdown for 10 days, absent a major emergency.”
Rep. Veronica Escobar said there was “no advance notice given to her office, the city of El Paso or airport operations.”