Flights resume shortly after FAA ban

(Feb. 11, 2026)

The F.A.A. lifted the airspace closure in El Paso, Texas around 8 a.m., allowing flights to resume in the city as well as in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The restriction caused 14 flights to cancel and nine to delay. This rare ban started last night around 11:30 p.m. due to “special security reasons” as stated by the F.A.A. notice and was expected to last until Feb. 21.

Although unconfirmed by city officials, the Trump administration claims that the drones were flown by the Mexican cartel. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico responded and stated “there is no information about the use of drones at the border.”

Photo credit: Janely Morales Rosas

During a press conference this morning, Mayor Renard Johnson answered the community’s questions on this concerning chain of events, especially since a flight ban like this hasn’t happened since 9/11.

“This unnecessary decision has caused chaos and confusion in the El Paso community,” Johnson said. “I want to be very, very, clear that this should’ve never happened. Our community was scared, because someone decided to shut down our airspace. You just cannot do that.” 

He also stated that medical evacuation flights were forced to divert to Las Cruces and that “this community has a right to know” the truth about why this ban took place.

Representative Veronica Escobar took to social media to express her concerns over the lack of communication from the F.A.A. 

“There was no advance notice provided to my office, the City of El Paso, or anyone involved in airport operations,” she wrote on an Instagram post. “From what my office and I have been able to gather overnight and early this morning, there is no immediate threat to the community or surrounding areas.”

WIM will continue to pay close attention and update this page with any more information. 

10:56 A.M Update: 

According to CBS News, the airspace closure stemmed from disagreements between the F.A.A. and Pentagon officials over “drone-related tests.”

Sources told CBS News that F.A.A. Administrator Bryan Bedford decided to “close the airspace-without alerting White House, Pentagon or Homeland Security Officials.”