10-day NOTAM El Paso airspace

[GON]

It is being reported (unconfirmed) that El Paso has a NOTAM from 10FEB2026 through 20FEB2026. I reached out to a TSA friend to confirm what is in a report from a El Paso, TX publication. If the closure is accurate, this is the first time since 9/11 that a major action like this has occurred (long term closed airspace for national defense).

From El Paso Matters:

Without explanation, FAA closes El Paso and New Mexico airspace for 10 days, cites national defense​

“The FAA, on short notice, issued a temporary flight restriction halting all flights to and from El Paso and our neighboring community, Santa Teresa, NM. The restriction prohibits all aircraft operations (including commercial, cargo and general aviation) and is effective from February 10 at 11:30 PM (MST) to February 20 at 11:30PM (MST),” the city said in a news release.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued unexplained notices late Tuesday closing airspace over El Paso and a large patch of southern New Mexico west of Santa Teresa for 10 days. El Paso International Airport is closed to all flights, the city said.

The orders close off all air travel in the affected area, which could cause massive disruption in the nation’s 23rd largest city.

“THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) CLASSIFIES THE AIRSPACE DEFINED IN THIS NOTAM AS ‘NTL DEFENSE AIRSPACE’. PILOTS WHO DO NOT ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING PROC MAY BE INTERCEPTED, DETAINED AND INTERVIEWED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT/SECURITY PERSONNEL,” the notices said.

“THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MAY USE DEADLY FORCE AGAINST THE AIRBORNE ACFT, IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE ACFT POSES AN IMMINENT SECURITY THREAT,” the notice continued.

https://elpasomatters.org/2026/02/1...aso-southern-new-mexico-airspace-for-10-days/

Photo credit of El Paso Matters.

 

[GON]

Possibly related news... Connecting the dots....

Of note, I have personally walked some of the somewhat remote Rio grande river border between Mexico and the US, in the past 30 months. Without a doubt, a person, items, etc can easily cross over from Mexico to the US without being detected.

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2026/02/defense-areas/411331/

 

[dnewton3]

Interesting.

Most of us will never be told the underlying root cause, but one can theorize that some manner of credible threat is afoot.

 

[97prizm]

I figured some type of secret aircraft testing. This isn't too far off from where Steven Douglas snapped images of the RQ-170 Many years ago.

 

[fdcg27]

Here's a link to the FAA's site.
Since the restriction only applies up to 17,999 feet, IFR overflights would still be permitted.

https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_6_2233

Here's a link to the current departures ELP, but note that times are MST, so two hours behind EST. Only Delta shows an actual cancellation, with most early flights showing delays and flights later in the day showing scheduled, so the airlines may be hoping that they will be able to get some relief to allow operations to continue at ELP.

https://elpasointernationalairport.com/flights/departures/

 

[jetman]

During my whole aviation pilot career there was a restricted area over White Sands NM, which is well north of El Paso, that we were NOT allowed to fly thru when it was active, which was most of the time.

 

[Astro14]

Easy enough to confirm. Search for ELP.

https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/

You’ll find this: 02/075 ELP AIRSPACE SEE FDC 6/2233 ZAB 99.7 SECURITY 2602110857-2602210630

Which refers to the TFR.

 

[dnewton3]

I just saw on the news that it's been reported to be linked to cartel drones invading the designated El Paso airspace.
Those drones have been neutralized by the DoW, according to the new story.

Not really sure why, if the storyline is true, it would be necessary to freeze all air traffic for 10 days ... Maybe to get other DoW assets in place?

 

[thastinger]

I just saw on the news that it's been reported to be linked to cartel drones invading the designated El Paso airspace.
Those drones have been neutralized by the DoW, according to the new story.

Not really sure why, if the storyline is true, it would be necessary to freeze all air traffic for 10 days ... Maybe to get other DoW assets in place?

One would think that whatever devices the DoW was using to combat the drones could also impact aircraft/ deny use of GPS etc.

 

[dnewton3]

Apparently the ban is lifted; things are "normal" now.

 

[fdcg27]

Apparently the ban is lifted; things are "normal" now.

So, the airlines that issued delays rather than cancellations made the right call.

 

[cptbarkey]

10 days was an attention getter, let alone drones across the border. Daily Mail says it was a party balloon.

 

[edyvw]

Army General: Let’s do some testing boys.

FAA: General, are you doing some anti-drone weapons testing without telling us?

General: yes, I am. What you going to do about it?

FAA: OK. But we need to known for how long?

General: Until I say so!

FAA: OK General, but, we don’t want you to accidentally shoot down an airplane.

General: Who me? Do you know am I?

FAA: no we don’t.

General: You don’t?

FAA: no, we don’t. We are jut asking for a simple information.

General: OK, 10 days (actually it takes few hours).

FAA: OK, 10 days it is.

White House, DOT, DHS, DOD, DOS, Treasury, Federal Reserves, Kim Kardashian, average rich guy, Pope: WHAT IS GOING ON THERE???

FAA: well, we had to close air space because xyz, but if you want to talk to person responsible for this, here is the phone number.