The FAA issued a temporary flight restriction shutting down a 10-nautical mile radius around El Paso airport – near the border with Mexico – from ground level up to 18,000 feet. They did it with virtually no notice and it lasts for 10 days. It’s a nearly unprecedent move, classifying this as “National Defense Airspace.”
The restriction cites 49 USC 40103(b)(3) national defense and security authority over airspace with criminal charges for willful violation of a fine and up to 1 year imprisonment.
- The notice invokes 14 CFR 99.7 “Special Security Instructions.” This genreally involves FAA acting pursuant to agreement with the Department of Defense or another federal security agency.
- The El Paso airport is closed for arrivals and departures, but the area is not closed for overflight at cruise altitude (planes won’t generally have to be re-routed). There’s no carveout for law enforcement or military activity.
- We don’t know why this is being done – and it’s unusual for its 10-day duration with mere hours of notice.
- There’s very little option for travelers in the area. Las Cruces, New Mexico is about 35 miles away, served only by Advanced Air. Midland, Texas is a four hour drive away. Best bets are going across the border to Juarez, Mexico or driving to Albuquerque.
Here’s the FAA temporary flight restriction for 10 nautical miles around El Paso “for Special Security Reasons.” The airport posted to social media that they were closed as of Monday night at 11:30 p.m. – for 10 days.
Listen to air traffic control tell the pilot of arriving Southwest 1249 from Houston to El Paso that the plane and pilot… would not be leaving in the morning:
Odd national security pop-up TFR in El Paso, Texas
The control power just informed a southwest flight. They just got noticed that a TFR ha gone into effect for 10 days for national security reasons. The airport has been shut down for 10 days.
Via @theATCapp pic.twitter.com/r96MrpRiXx
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) February 11, 2026
This is not the only flight restriction that has been put in place. (HT: JonNYC) The Santa Teresa restriction is not on the Santa Teresa airport (KDNA) but sits over the East Potrillo Mountains area.
An additional TFR was issued for a portion of the New Mexico border a short distance, but not adjacent to, the El Paso TFR.
Unlike typical VIP TFRs, both of these prohibit ALL aircraft operations within their boundaries. There is no carveout for aircraft in communications with… https://t.co/kmnZxiGs1m pic.twitter.com/CZDG9E04O4
— TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) February 11, 2026
Local officials were caught unaware.
El Paso City Councilmember Chris Canales confirmed to me that he is not aware of anyone receiving prior warning from the FAA. pic.twitter.com/89lqqc0Re9
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) February 11, 2026
So what’s possibly going on here?
- The Wall Street Journal cites a prior notice of drone activity. A localized restriction below 18,000 feet fits where drones, shoulder-fired threats, and helicopter activity fit. The suggestion is that a security or intelligence agency is driving the request. This seems low-likelihood.
- A classified Department of Defense operation. Two nearby restrictions look like an operational area and a transit secondary area. And it would explain ‘nobody will say why this is happening’. Obviously possibilities include activity related to immigration or drugs.
- This doesn’t look like VIP movement, which would be shorter and would label the reason (e.g. the Presidential flight restriction over Palm Beach for the holidays).
The most obvious time an airspace restriction of this nature has happened was the nationwide shutdown and ground stop in the aftermath of 9/11. Even there, it lasted 3 days not 10 (though National airport in DC was closed for 23 days).
Since this is so unusual there’s naturally speculation over aliens, nuclear weapons, and myriad other conspiracies. Still, El Paso is 750 miles from Area 51.
Proximity to Mexico border should be a clue.
Another distraction from the Epstein files, which clearly show the President and half his cabinet having been directly involved in Epstein’s crimes, no doubt.
@lavanderialarry — 100%. They tried with Venezuela, were considering with Iran, but they’ll have to ‘wag the dog’ in a major way to effectively distract. I don’t think any of it’s gonna work for them. If Republicans cared, they’d impeach and remove him, Vance would pull a Ford, pardon him (yuck), and they’d keep the WH for the remainder of the term, but likely lose Congress. It would only be partial accountability, but, better than nothing. The economy is not doing well (Fed just noted jobs numbers were way off, it’s far worse), and turns out heavy handed immigration enforcement is not popular, nor is ending social programs, crony capitalism, or all the grifting. 264 days until midterms, friends!
Thanks for the heads-up regarding El Paso, but shame on you for stating that “Best bets are going across the border to Juarez, Mexico or driving to Albuquerque”. As of early 2026, the U.S. State Department advises travelers to reconsider travel (Level 3) to the state of Chihuahua, which includes Ciudad Juarez, due to high crime and kidnapping risks. I’ve been to Juarez multiple times under very high corporate security, it is an extremely dangerous place.
@Mantis — Impressed that you still remember our geography, you know, since you abandoned us and fled to Asia. If proximity to Mexico is at issue, then why SAN or TUS, etc. not also closed? It’s a performative ‘special’ military operation, if anything. Remind you of anyone? Your buddy Putin…