“In a move that appeared to surprise state and local officials, the restriction went into effect at 11:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday and will remain in place until 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 20.”

FAA Halts All Flights at El Paso Airport for 10 Days: Live Updates

“F.A.A. officials responded by imposing a rare, 10-day closure of the surrounding airspace up to 18,000 feet, out of concern for the safety of other aircraft in the region, citing “special security reasons.””

Military’s Use of Anti-Drone Technology Said to Cause El Paso Airspace Closure

“The shutdown at the airport in El Paso was lifted in less than eight hours, but not before disrupting travelers and businesses.”

What We Know About the El Paso Airspace Shutdown

“On Wednesday morning, as passengers, airport workers and municipal officials in El Paso fumed over the closure, the White House quickly engineered a course reversal, resulting in the F.A.A.’s cancellation of the shutdown after about seven and a half hours.”

Closing of El Paso Airspace Adds to Tension Between F.A.A. and Pentagon

“The latest incident occurred late on Tuesday when the Federal Aviation Administration said it was suspending all flights in the El Paso area for 10 days. The closure was put in place with little warning or explanation, angering local officials, businesses and travelers. On Wednesday morning, the agency abruptly reversed course.”

Trump’s Actions Test the Fragile World of Air Travel

“The F.A.A. closed, and then reopened, the airspace over El Paso this week.”

The New York Times News Quiz, Feb. 13, 2026

“But the government deployed experimental laser weapons and shut down the airspace over El Paso on Wednesday, disrupting flights for the thousands of passengers scheduled to fly through the city that day.”

The El Paso drone scare is the future of national security paranoia