All flights to and from El Paso International Airport in Texas are suspended for a period of ten days due to security reasons as announced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday. The suspension affects all types of flights including commercial, cargo, and general aviation. The FAA stated that no pilots are authorized to operate aircraft in the designated airspace during this period, which began at 06:30 GMT on Wednesday and is set to conclude at the same time on February 21.

The FAA did not provide specific reasons behind the implementation of these flight restrictions, which have taken effect in one of the key cities for transit between the United States and Mexico. This sudden announcement raises concerns about the potential impact on travel and commerce, given that El Paso serves as an important transit hub for both passengers and goods, with approximately 3.49 million travelers passing through the airport within the first eleven months of 2025.

Travelers have been alerted about the operational changes via social media from the airport authorities. The lack of detailed explanation from the FAA regarding the nature of the security threat adds an air of uncertainty to the situation and raises questions about the necessary protocols and measures that need to be taken in response to such flight restrictions.