A highly unusual FAA ground stop over El Paso and nearby Santa Teresa, NM, issued on short notice and later lifted within hours, left travelers stranded and carriers scrambling even though commercial flights resumed. The restriction was framed as being for “special security reasons,” and it briefly halted flights at El Paso International Airport (ELP) before the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the closure had ended and commercial operations could restart.
What you’ll need before you take action
- Your flight number and airline confirmation code
- A way to receive airline alerts (app notifications or text/email)
- A link to official channels (FAA Newsroom, FAA TFR/NOTAM portal, and the airport’s advisories)
1) Overview of the FAA ground stop and its resolution
Start by separating two similar-sounding concepts.
A ground stop is an operational instruction that prevents departures to a destination (and can freeze certain movements) while controllers and airlines manage a safety or security constraint. It can feel like a “shutdown” to passengers because planes do not depart, crews time out, and schedules collapse fast.
A broader airspace closure or a truly nationwide ground stop is different. Those measures are wider and usually affect many airports at once. What happened in El Paso was unusual because it resembled a nationwide-style security posture in tone, yet it focused on a specific area: El Paso, Texas, and Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
Here’s the sequence you should keep in mind:
- The FAA issued a security-driven restriction tied to El Paso and Santa Teresa.
- Airlines reacted quickly, including Southwest Airlines pausing operations to and from El Paso.
- Just before 9 a.m. ET on February 11, 2026, the FAA publicly said the “temporary closure” had been lifted.
- Flights began returning to normal schedules, but delays and cancellations could still ripple through the day.
What’s confirmed is the FAA’s public statement lifting the closure, the airport’s acknowledgment of a short-notice restriction, and the NOTAM language describing a National Defense Airspace designation. Motive and operational drivers should be treated carefully. You can verify the restriction itself in FAA systems, and you can verify airline actions in carrier alerts and airport advisories.
2) Official statements and quotes
FAA messaging was direct once the agency spoke publicly. Just before 9 a.m. ET on February 11, 2026, the FAA’s official News account on X stated:
“The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal.”
El Paso International Airport (ELP) described the immediate operational problem: a short-notice restriction that halted flights while the airport awaited more FAA direction. ELP said:
“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). Airport staff has reached out to the FAA, and we are pending additional guidance.”
Rep. Veronica Escobar emphasized communication failures and the community effect, focusing on the scale and the lack of notice:
“The highly consequential decision by FAA to shut down the El Paso Airport for 10 days is unprecedented and has resulted in significant concern within the community. there was no advance notice provided to my office, the City of El Paso, or anyone involved in airport operations.”
On the security framing, DHS plays a specific role in aviation-adjacent incidents, including drone threats. DHS often documents drone risks and cross-border smuggling patterns in its reporting, and those issues can intersect with FAA restrictions. In this event, DHS did not publish a standalone press release explaining the ground stop, while reports cited sources briefed by the FAA and a federal defense entity about drone-related concerns.
Table 1: Affected routes and operational status changes
| Item | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso International Airport (ELP) departures | Departures paused during the restriction window | Even after lifting, morning schedules can remain unstable due to aircraft and crew displacement |
| Arrivals into ELP | Inbound flights delayed, diverted, or held | Airlines may hold aircraft at origin to avoid congestion and staffing limits |
| Southwest Airlines | Announced a pause in operations to and from El Paso | A pause can trigger rebooking waves across the carrier’s network |
| United Airlines / American Airlines / Delta Air Lines | Experienced cancellations and delays tied to the restriction environment | Exact effects vary by carrier’s morning bank and inbound aircraft positioning |
| Regional traffic near Santa Teresa, New Mexico | Covered by the same short-notice restriction | General aviation and cargo can be affected along with commercial service |
3) Key facts and policy details
Aviation restrictions like this start with a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions). Operators use NOTAMs to plan routes, comply with restrictions, and decide whether a flight can legally and safely operate. Airlines also translate NOTAM limits into dispatch releases and crew instructions.
In this case, the FAA issued a NOTAM that designated the area as National Defense Airspace. That label usually signals heightened security or military activity. It does not, by itself, publicly confirm a specific threat to commercial flights.
Operationally, the restriction described:
- A defined geographic ring around El Paso, measured in nautical miles
- An altitude ceiling that applied to operations below a certain flight level
- Enforcement language that can include interception warnings
The published scope included a 10-nautical-mile radius and applied to flights below 18,000 feet. The NOTAM was scheduled as a 10-day ground stop window, running from 11:30 p.m. MST on February 10, 2026 through 11:30 p.m. MST on February 20, 2026, even though the FAA said the closure was lifted on February 11, 2026.
Pay attention to the enforcement wording. Language such as “may be intercepted, detained and interviewed” can appear in high-security restrictions. References to “deadly force” are typically tied to aircraft deemed an imminent threat. The phrasing can sound extreme, yet it may be standard for certain defense-related airspace actions.
Also note the jurisdictional line. The restriction described coverage in U.S. airspace and excluded Mexican airspace. Cross-border operations are handled under separate legal authorities and coordination channels.
⚠️ What travelers should verify now: check FAA NOTAM/TFR status, confirm airline rebookings, and monitor official airport advisories for any residual impact
4) Significance and impact
Security-driven pauses that effectively shut down flights for a major U.S. city are rare in modern commercial aviation. That rarity is one reason the wording and the speed of the action caused alarm across the border region.
Even a short halt can trigger long delays. Airlines build tight morning schedules. When an early bank fails, crews may exceed duty limits, aircraft end up in the wrong city, and gates fill up quickly. One stalled morning can ripple across the network into the evening.
The scale of El Paso’s normal operations helps explain why effects were visible fast. El Paso International Airport (ELP) typically handles about 100 flights per day and around 3.5 million passengers annually. When departures stop, the terminal crowds quickly. Rebooking lines grow. Call centers jam.
Southwest Airlines’ pause was a practical response to an environment where dispatchers could not reliably plan legal routings and arrival windows. Other major carriers, including United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, also faced cancellations or delays. Those outcomes can happen even if the FAA lifts a closure within hours.
Finally, the “deadly force” phrase drew attention for a reason. Many travelers do not see this language in day-to-day aviation notices. In practice, that warning tends to accompany defense-protection measures and is aimed at noncompliant aircraft, not routine commercial operations.
5) Affected individuals and operational disruptions
If you were traveling through El Paso on February 11, 2026, the disruption likely looked like one of these scenarios:
- Missed connections A delayed inbound aircraft can break a same-day connection, even if your outbound flight still shows “on time” at first.
- Rebooking bottlenecks When multiple flights cancel at once, the next available seats may be spread across later flights or alternate airports.
- Terminal flow limits Reports described temporary blocking near TSA checkpoint access. Airports sometimes do this for crowd control and safety when departure volumes collapse.
- Cost spikes Rideshare prices can rise. Hotel rooms may sell out. Meal costs add up while you wait for a new itinerary.
- Document-sensitive travel Some passengers travel for time-set appointments. That can include immigration-related check-ins or other official appointments. A same-day disruption can force rescheduling, and outcomes vary by agency and the facts of your case.
If you face a security-driven pause, act early. Seats vanish fast once rebooking begins, especially on routes with limited daily frequencies.
✅ If stranded or disrupted, contact your carrier promptly for rebooking options and document costs for potential refunds or assistance
6) Official government sources and where to verify information
Use a simple workflow that relies on official postings and carrier-specific updates.
- Check FAA public statements first The FAA Newsroom is where public-facing clarifications may appear, including whether a restriction has been lifted.
- Confirm the technical restriction status The FAA’s TFR/NOTAM tools show whether an airspace restriction is active, amended, or canceled. That matters because airline advisories can lag behind FAA updates.
- Look for DHS confirmation only in DHS channels If DHS issues a statement tied to aviation security or drone threats, it typically appears in the DHS newsroom press releases. Don’t treat third-party claims as equivalent to a DHS posting.
- Verify your airline’s operational response Airline alerts tell you what your carrier is doing with waivers, rebooking rules, and refund paths. Those are separate from FAA restrictions.
- Cross-check with El Paso International Airport (ELP) advisories Airport statements can confirm local conditions like terminal access, curb congestion, and screening line management.
For El Paso travelers, one date still matters for planning: the NOTAM window was published to run through 11:30 p.m. MST on February 20, 2026, even though the FAA said normal commercial flying could resume on February 11, 2026. Check the FAA systems before you head to the airport, then lock in your airline’s rebooking in writing.
This article provides general information about immigration law and is not legal advice. Immigration cases are highly fact-specific. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice about your specific situation.
FAA Lifts Ground Stop at El Paso International Airport After Hours
A sudden FAA ground stop over El Paso, Texas, and Santa Teresa, New Mexico, disrupted travel on February 11, 2026. Classified as National Defense Airspace, the restriction halted all flights for several hours before being lifted. While the FAA confirmed no ongoing threat to commercial aviation, the lack of advance notice and the use of security-heavy language caused significant operational ripple effects and public concern across the border region.
