The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closed the airspace around the border city of El Paso, Texas, for 10 days, in an unusual move that authorities put down to unspecified “special security reasons”.

All flights into and out of the city are suspended, the FAA said without elaborating on the reasons. The FAA has also prohibited all flight operations in the Santa Teresa area of New Mexico, citing special security reasons.

Flights from El Paso International Airport were halted starting February 10 at 11.30pm local time and will stay suspended until the same time on February 20, the airport operator said in a travel advisory posted on its official Facebook and Instagram accounts.

While temporary air space closures occur due to military activity, rocket launches or presidential air traffic movements, a broad closure of a major airport for 10 days is highly unusual, particularly as there was no advance warning or subsequent explanations.

Passenger traffic at El Paso reached about 3.5 million in the first 11 months of 2025, and the airport is used by major carriers, including Delta Air Lines, United, and American Airlines.

“We still have no reason for the flight restriction provided by the FAA or any federal authority, and that lack of explanation is obviously fuelling fear and speculation in our community,” Chris Canales, a city council member for El Paso, said in a written response to questions.

“What’s especially troubling is that there appears to have been no advance notice to local government, airport leadership, or even local Air Traffic Control or local military leadership.”