The airspace over El Paso, Texas, has been closed for ten days for what the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) called “extraordinary safety reasons.” The closures include El Paso International Airport, where all flights have been grounded.
The restriction applies to all flights to and from El Paso, including commercial, cargo and general aviation operations.
The FAA’s decision also affects large swaths of the South New Mexico West of Santa Teresa.
According to the FAA, the Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) are in effect from 11:30 pm (MST) on February 10 to 11:30 pm (MST) on February 20.
El Paso International Airport said in a statement to KFOX14: “The FAA has issued a temporary flight restriction at short notice suspending all flights to and from El Paso and the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The restriction prohibits all aircraft operations (including commercial, cargo and general aviation) from 11:30 p.m. (MST) on February 10 through February 20 Effective 11:30 p.m. (MST) today. Airport staff have contacted the FAA and we are awaiting additional guidance while commercial airlines operating in El Paso are being notified of this restriction, which appears to be safety related.”
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What is defense airspace?
The FAA has designated the area as “defense airspace,” a classification used for areas of national security interest where flight operations may be restricted, controlled, or prohibited to protect critical infrastructure, personnel, or U.S. territory.
According to the FAA notice cited by El Paso Matters, “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifies the airspace defined in this notice as ‘National Defense Airspace.’ Pilots who do not comply with the following procedures may be stopped, detained, and interviewed by law enforcement/security personnel.”
“The U.S. government may use lethal force against airborne ACFTs if it is determined that they pose an imminent security threat.”
