El Paso flights grounded for 10 days for 'special security reasons'

"The Federal Aviation Administration has closed the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas, grounding all flights in and out of the airport for the next 10 days. No explanation for the closure has been given, beyond a vague reference to "Special Security Reasons." The closure was announced late on February 10th in a notice on the FAA website, and applies until February 20th. A second notice lists a similar closure for nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico."

"Airspace in a 10-mile radius around El Paso airport is included, though flights above 18,000 feet are unaffected, as is Mexican airspace. El Paso operates flights from major US airlines including Southwest, Delta, United, and American. The New York Times reports that Southwest will be most affected by the closure, with 480 flights scheduled through the 10-day period. An unnamed spokesperson for the airport told the Times that the closure was issued "on short notice,""

Federal Aviation Administration authorities have closed the airspace around El Paso International Airport through February 20, grounding all flights in and out for ten days and citing "Special Security Reasons." A similar temporary restriction covers Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The restriction covers a 10-mile radius; flights above 18,000 feet and Mexican airspace remain unaffected. Major carriers serving El Paso include Southwest, Delta, United, and American. Southwest faces the largest disruption with 480 scheduled flights during the period. Local officials, including Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, reported no advance notice and said there is no immediate threat while urging the FAA to lift the restrictions.

Read at The Verge