FAA Drops Closure of Airspace Around El Paso International Airport

Update Feb. 12, 8:00 a.m. EST

According to a report in the AP, a dispute between the Pentagon and FAA caused the closure of the airspace around El Paso airport. Citing three unnamed officials, the AP reported on Thursday night that the Pentagon wanted to test a laser for use in shooting down drones used by Mexican drug cartels. That plan caused friction with the FAA, which prioritized commercial air traffic at El Paso.

There was reportedly a meeting between the two scheduled for later in February, but the Pentagon had decided to test the technology early, which caused the FAA to close the airspace.

Update: Feb. 11, 10:30 a.m. EST

Just hours after the FAA issued the NOTAM to close the airspace around El Paso International, it announced it was pulling the closure, which was supposed to be in place through at least Feb. 20 due to “security” reasons.

“There is no threat to commercial aviation,” the FAA said on social media later on Wednesday morning. “All flights will resume as normal.”

Original: Feb. 11, 6:30 a.m EST

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has shut down all commercial air traffic at Texas’ El Paso International Airport (ELP) through at least Feb. 20 due to “security” reasons.

The airport is the busiest commercial airport in West Texas, flying more than 4 million passengers annually. Most major U.S. carriers fly out of El Paso, including Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, and United. A majority of its service is domestic.

According to the airport, the news came on short notice from the FAA and “appears to be security related.”

The FAA notice, which includes a 10-mile area around the airport except for Mexican airspace in the area, gives the reasoning as “security,” but not much else is currently known. The notice simply reads, “temporary flight restrictions for special security reasons.”

The closest major international airport to El Paso is Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), which is about 270 miles north of El Paso. Tucson International Airport (TUS) is the next closest at about 320 miles west of the airport