[Fox] The Federal Aviation Administration has grounded all flights to and from El Paso International Airport in Texas for the next 10 days, the agency announced Wednesday, warning that the U.S. government "may use deadly force" against an aircraft in violation, if it is deemed to pose "an imminent security threat."
All flights to and from El Paso are grounded, including commercial, cargo and general aviation. The restriction is effective from February 10 at 11:30 p.m. MST to February 20 at 11:30 p.m. MST. The FAA cited "special security reasons" for the closure, but did not elaborate.
The no-fly restriction applies to airspace over El Paso as well as nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
El Paso airport issued a statement confirming the closure on Wednesday.
"Travelers should contact their airlines to get the most up-to-date flight status information," it said in a statement.
Former FAA safety team member Kyle Bailey told Fox News on Wednesday that a 10-day restriction like this is "unprecedented." He also noted the airport's proximity to the Fort Bliss Army post.
"It's definitely something like a national security event, a high-level VIP," Bailey speculated, "but the interesting thing is that on the Mexican side of the border there is no flight restriction."
"I think it's safe to say that it's something very big, either from a national security standpoint or perhaps testing something — equipment or something going into the air around the vicinity of those bases," he added.
| Moved to Home Front: WoT based in update at 1:15 p.m from comments: FAA lifts El Paso flight restriction after US disables Mexican cartel drones that 'breached US airspace' |
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