The Federal Aviation Administration has lifted the temporary closure of airspace over El Paso International Airport, stating there is no threat to commercial aviation and that flights will resume as normal.
The FAA had earlier announced a 10-day shutdown of airspace around the airport, citing “special security reasons.” During that period, officials said no flights would be permitted to take off, land, or travel through El Paso airspace. Fox News reported that the U.S. government could use “deadly force” against any aircraft in violation of the restriction if it were deemed to pose an imminent security threat.
The abrupt closure sparked widespread online speculation, with some observers comparing it to national airspace restrictions imposed in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The grounding also extended to nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
However, in an updated statement, the FAA confirmed the temporary closure has now been lifted and emphasized that there is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights are expected to operate on their normal schedules.
No additional details have been provided regarding the reason for the initial restriction. Early reports have suggested the closure was related to Mexican cartel drones breaching U.S. airspace.
