Reporting from multiple media outlets suggests that the sudden and total closure of El Paso airspace was related to the use of anti-drone laser weapon by the US government. On this week’s episode of our AvTalk podcast we analyze the response by FAA administrator Bryan Bedford and discuss the incident in light of other civilian-military coordination problems in US airspace.
With the FAA confirming that the NOTAM was lifted at 13:54 UTC, the restriction was in effect for 7 hours and 24 minutes. During this time, eight inbound and outbound flights were cancelled—accounting for 19% of El Paso (ELP) traffic today. The affected flights are (all times in UTC, El Paso local time currently is UTC -7).
| Flight | STD (UTC) | STA (UTC) | DEP | ARR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WN1742 | 2026-02-11 15:00:00 | 2026-02-11 16:50:00 | DAL | ELP |
| AA4971 | 2026-02-11 16:00:00 | 2026-02-11 18:01:00 | LAX | ELP |
| DL1002 | 2026-02-11 16:00:00 | 2026-02-11 19:29:00 | ATL | ELP |
| WN1692 | 2026-02-11 18:50:00 | 2026-02-11 20:30:00 | ELP | DAL |
| WN1688 | 2026-02-11 19:50:00 | 2026-02-11 21:25:00 | ELP | AUS |
| AA6357 | 2026-02-11 19:35:00 | 2026-02-11 21:08:00 | ELP | PHX |
| AA4971 | 2026-02-11 18:31:00 | 2026-02-11 20:51:00 | ELP | LAX |
| WN1865 | 2026-02-11 15:15:00 | 2026-02-11 17:20:00 | HOU | ELP |
| WN4221 | 2026-02-11 16:45:00 | 2026-02-11 18:25:00 | LAS | ELP |
| WN4933 | 2026-02-11 17:20:00 | 2026-02-11 19:10:00 | DAL | ELP |
| AA6357 | 2026-02-11 17:36:00 | 2026-02-11 19:05:00 | PHX | ELP |
| WN1221 | 2026-02-11 19:05:00 | 2026-02-11 21:20:00 | ELP | LAX |
| WN1709 | 2026-02-11 18:00:00 | 2026-02-11 19:25:00 | ELP | PHX |
| WN2438 | 2026-02-11 17:25:00 | 2026-02-11 19:05:00 | ELP | DAL |
| DL1741 | 2026-02-11 13:00:00 | 2026-02-11 15:54:00 | ELP | ATL |
| WN1570 | 2026-02-11 16:35:00 | 2026-02-11 17:50:00 | PHX | ELP |
The FAA has lifted the NOTAM affecting El Paso airspace. In a message on X they stated:
“There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal.”
No further information explaining the closure was provided.
The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal.
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) February 11, 2026
The last flight to depart El Paso Airport ahead of the airspace closure was a Learjet 45 registered as XB-RGN. Scheduled to depart five minutes past the curfew at 10:35 PM, the actual departure was recorded as 10:30 PM (local time)—the very minute the NOTAM went into effect. It flew to nearby Las Cruces (LRU).
You can track the flight here: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/xb-rgn#3e48a8a1
The NOTAM covering El Paso was published on February 11th at 03:32 UTC. This is equal to February 10th at 8:32 PM local time. It was put into effect roughly three hours later, at February 11, 2026 at 0630 UTC (11:30 PM, February 10th, local time).
The last flight to arrive at El Paso Airport ahead of the airspace closure was American Airlines AA1525. It was scheduled to depart Dallas (DFW) at 9:30 PM (local time), but actually departed Forth Worth at 10:12 PM. It landed in El Paso at 10:30 PM in the evening of February 10th (05:30 UTC, February 11th). You can track the flight here: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n940nn#3e48436f
As the NOTAM is currently worded, no flights can be performed in the affected sectors—up to an altitude of 17,999 feet MSL (Mean Sea Level). This includes medical transports and law enforcement, as reported by local media outlet El Paso Matters.
The NOTAM (FDC 6/2233) also covers the airspace above and surrounding the nearby military airport El Paso Biggs Field Airport (BIF/KBIF).
The airspace closure will cause severe disruption to flights to and from El Paso—especially if the NOTAM remains in effect for the full ten-day period. According to data available to Flightradar24, more than 400 commercial passenger flights are scheduled to depart and arrive in El Paso (ELP/KELP) in the coming nine days.
Travellers to and from El Paso are therefore effectively left with Ciudad Juárez International Airport (CJS/MMCS)on the Mexican side of the border as the only nearby alternative, unless they are willing to travel to Albuquerque (ABQ/KABQ)—the closest commercial airport frequented by major airlines. Albuquerque International Airport is located more than 250 miles away by road.
The FAA has also prohibited all flight operations in the nearby Santa Teresa area, citing special security reasons. The same validity period and altitude parameters apply. Just like El Paso, the area borders Mexico.
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has issued a NOTAM halting all flight operations at and around El Paso International Airport (ELP/KELP) until February 21st, effective immediately. The reason given is “Temporary flight restrictions for special security reasons.”
The NOTAM covers a zone with a ten-nautical-mile radius and prohibits all flight operations from ground level up to 17,999 feet. Overflights seems to be permitted.
We’re always looking for additional receiver hosts in areas that either lack coverage or need additional coverage. Help us grow the Flightradar24 ADS-B network.
We are continually looking to improve our flight tracking and the airports below are where new receivers will add the most coverage. Apply for a receiver today and if accepted you’ll receiver a free Flightradar24 Business Subscription.
Get the best flight tracking experience with our award-winning iOS and Android flight tracker app
Use your camera to scan the QR code below to download the Flightradar24 app.
9 Responses
It is interesting to follow the news media on this. The first info re: use of lasers by U. S. Army was on military.com. That was quashed, nothing more from any source. News stories noted that other sources indicate an alternative set of issues. So, the classification envelope was dropped on the whole thing, probably for two reasons, the tech matters, and the screw up by the Army in not coordinating with FAA. Hmm, didn’t that happen in Wash DC with some helicopter in corridor 4. The FAA was absolutely right to close the airspace. All in all, however, I imagine some guy wearing stars will be standing tall in Wash DC to explain. Probably looking at an early retirement.
Sounds like serious lack of communication within our own govt. ???
We fly into KELP quiet often. Numerous lasers have been reported by us and others. Just a few weeks ago after reporting ATC said probably a night club. Interesting.
I guess the government can do whatever they want🤷♀️
It looks to me that El Paso airport is closer than 10 nm to the Mexican border.
Does this mean that the FAA was shutting down Mexican airspace?
Will the DOD compensate Parties R Us for the loss of the party balloons?
The unmatched level of incompetence from this administration puts the entire country in danger
NY Times reported that the target turned out to be an errant Mylar party balloon.
The answer might be found at 32.1230, -106.7573 at approximately 03:53:06Z on NEXRAD II Radar – Radial Velocity, and also on EUMETSAT NIGHTTIME MICROPHYSICS (03:50:21); GOES-18 CIRA GEOCOLOR (03:50:21); and GOES-18 BAND 12 (03:50:21).
The Radial Velocity Radar signature reveals that a small section of air was pushed both towards and away from the RADAR TOWER at the same time. This is indicative of either a strong updraft or downdraft or perhaps some manner of explosion, whether created chemically as in explosives, or perhaps from the simple popping of a balloon that was large enough to appear on Radar. A large falling/descending object might also create this signature.
Similar signatures can be found on the night of February 3, 2023, over the skies of Ohio in the same time frame of the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. For more on that see:
“FAILED MILITARY ATTEMPT TO SHOOT DOWN UNDISCLOSED ADDITIONAL CHINESE SPY BALLOON OVER THE SKIES OF OHIO WAS CAUSE OF TOXIC EAST PALESTINE TRAIN DERAILMENT OF FEBRUARY 3, 2023”
http://www.crucifixfiles.com