# El Paso Airport closed for 10 days for "security reasons" (reopened on February 11, 2026) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 11, 2026, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575 "2026-02-11T10:18:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/1 "2026-02-11T10:18:56Z")
The FAA’s [sudden closure of El Paso Airport](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/us/faa-el-paso-flight-restrictions.html?unlocked_article_code=1.LVA.FubQ.FbHqKwOtiUdV&smid=url-share) has taken local officials by surprise. It is virtually unprecedented to suddenly close a US airport like this, for this long (even after the attacks of September 11, 2001, airports were not closed for 10 days). And of course, the federal government has not given any specific reason for such a closure. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/2 "2026-02-11T10:38:54Z")
Came here to see if there was any information beyond the bare bones news coverage (maybe from locals who can report on the ground). Absent any more concrete details, I’m going to assume they’re moving all the bodies and alien technology from Area 51. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/3 "2026-02-11T10:52:32Z")
From what I’m reading [on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1r1s4zt/faa_grounds_all_flights_to_and_from_el_paso_until/), even the local military installations seem to not have known in advance, and the Pentagon pizza index hasn’t moved, so it’s probably not about a “real” military intervention against Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/4 "2026-02-11T10:53:10Z")
As someone who has made multiple same-day-booking emergency trips through ELP in the past year, this was not happy news to wake up to. Best I can do is fly to ABQ and rent a car for the 3.5 h drive. I’m curious if we’ve ever seen something like this before. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/5 "2026-02-11T11:00:49Z")
Reddit discussion thread. Lots of speculation. Very limited facts. > **[Reddit - The heart of the internet](https://www.reddit.com/r/news/comments/1r1rfw1/faa_grounds_all_flights_to_and_from_el_paso_until/)** I’m sticking with aliens. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/6 "2026-02-11T11:03:52Z")
Random trumpery. Which is even more unprecedented and unpredictable than aliens. > [@Ruken](#): > > I’m curious if we’ve ever seen something like this before. In my 35 years in the biz I’ve never seen anything like this. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/7 "2026-02-11T11:06:02Z")
It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if this was about aliens, but not the kind from other planets. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/8 "2026-02-11T11:20:41Z")
I’d speculate that we are going to take military action against the cartel in Juarez and that the government will claim that the cartel has infiltrated El Paso airport security. In other words it’s time for another distraction from the Epstein files and ICE activities. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/9 "2026-02-11T11:26:26Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > I’m sticking with aliens. I think you’re right. El Paso is a suburb of the alien hot-spot Juarez. At this point, I just have to wonder: Are “we” keeping the aliens OUT? Or keeping the natives (and cheap indentured farm labor) IN? ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/10 "2026-02-11T11:32:09Z")
Here’s a map. It is not formatted for mobile: > **[tfrweb](https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_6_2234)** > > Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) Website. There are two Temporary Flight Restrictions. There’s a circle around El Paso and a trapezoid along the border in NM where there is absolutely nothing but some long-cold volcanoes. I was going to write “nothing but rattlesnakes” but I’ve never even encountered one hiking out there. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/11 "2026-02-11T11:57:56Z")
So it’s not specifically the airport itself that’s closed, but all the airspace around it below 18,000 ft which also includes a small section of NM and an army air base. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/12 "2026-02-11T12:08:56Z")
Yeah, brown people are about to die. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/13 "2026-02-11T12:22:34Z")
I imagine this also means all kinds of medical evacuation flights are also shut down. The unpredictable chaos from this government continues to astound me. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/14 "2026-02-11T12:32:42Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > I imagine this also means all kinds of medical evacuation flights are also shut down. Yep. Along with all other essential services that rely on air transport. I don’t know what they’re up to but since Trump is involved it can’t be good. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/15 "2026-02-11T12:37:14Z")
Is it conceivable that this is a rehearsal for something they plan on a wider scale for the november election? ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/16 "2026-02-11T13:26:55Z")
Possibly retaliation for a recent city vote to limit new ICE detention facilities? > **[El Paso City Council okays plan to halt new ICE detention facilities](https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/immigration/2026/02/03/el-paso-city-council-pursuing-plan-of-action-to-stop-new-ice-facilities/88491739007/)** > > The El Paso City Council unanimously approved pursuing a plan of action to prevent new ICE detention facilities in the city during a meeting Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/17 "2026-02-11T13:28:44Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > I imagine this also means all kinds of medical evacuation flights are also shut down. Not necessarily, at least for the helos picking up a trauma victim from the field or an interhospital transfer; they can & do regularly get clearance in a _routine_ TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction); hell, I’ve done hot-air balloon flights in a TFR, with permission, of course; even had the Secret Service there to send us off. However, this is not a normal TFR so I don’t know (I didn’t read it) what extra-special restrictions might apply. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/18 "2026-02-11T13:28:59Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Is it conceivable that this is a rehearsal for something they plan on a wider scale for the november election? Well, on the one hand I can’t see how shutting down airports would help them there. On the other hand, they’re idiots so who knows? Just because it makes no sense doesn’t mean they won’t do it. It’s hard to guess the motivations for behavior when the people behind it are irrational and stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/19 "2026-02-11T13:32:18Z")
I think the advent of smartphones is a good debunker of alien sightings and suspicious UFO linked military activity (and related issues like the Loch Ness Monster). How were there so many reports in the 20th century of people alleging to have seen these things and causing urban legends that last for generations but now when everyone has a high definition camera in their pockets no one can substantiate the hearsay ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575/20 "2026-02-11T13:40:18Z")
IIRC NOTAMs usually do mention medical flights are allowed with prior authorization, I did not see any mention of them in the NOTAM in question. Brian [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-paso-airport-closed-for-10-days-for-security-reasons-reopened-on-february-11-2026/1027575.md?page=2)