The Federal Aviation Administration lifted sweeping flight restrictions around El Paso International Airport early Wednesday, reopening the skies after an abrupt shutdown that stunned travelers and rattled airlines.

The agency had imposed the ban late Tuesday, effectively freezing operations at the West Texas airport. Now, officials say the threat that prompted the unprecedented move has been addressed.

Drone Incursion Sparks Rare Shutdown

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a social media post that the closure — initially expected to stretch through Feb. 21 — was triggered by a drone incursion into U.S. airspace near the airport.

“The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region,” Duffy wrote. “The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming.”

In its first notice announcing the shutdown, the FAA cited “special security reasons” but offered no further detail. As of Wednesday afternoon, the precise nature of the incident remained murky.

While Duffy’s statement suggested possible criminal foreign drone activity, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said during a Feb. 11 news conference that there was no information indicating drones operating along the border.

Adding to the uncertainty, CBS News, citing unnamed sources, reported that the closure was connected to Pentagon drone testing — not an active military operation.

Airport Stands Still as Flights Halted

A social media post from El Paso International Airport confirmed the sweeping impact:

“All flights to and from El Paso are grounded, including commercial, cargo and general aviation. The FAA has issued a flight restriction halting all flights to and from El Paso effective from February 10 at 11:30 PM (MST) to February 20 at 11:30 PM (MST). Travelers should contact their airlines to get most up-to-date flight status information.”

The restriction covered a 10-mile radius around El Paso and applied to airspace from ground level up to nearly 18,000 feet. Aircraft were barred from entering unless granted specific authorization from federal officials. Nearby Mexican airspace was not affected.

The airport serves major carriers including Alaska Airlines; American Airlines and American Eagle; Delta Air Lines; Frontier Airlines; Southwest Airlines; and United Airlines and United Express.

On Feb. 11 alone, 43 departures were scheduled, potentially affecting more than 5,900 passengers, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Southwest accounted for 19 of those flights, followed by American with 12. Most, if not all, were likely canceled.

United and Southwest issued travel waivers, offering passengers flexibility to rebook.

An “Unprecedented” Move

Robert W. Mann Jr., a former airline executive and president of airline consultancy R.W. Mann and Co., described the shutdown in stark terms.

“This is unprecedented. I’ve never seen anything like this,” Mann said.

He warned that the temporary flight restrictions were absolute unless airlines secured waivers. Beyond passenger disruptions, aircraft and flight crews could have been stranded.

“The [temporary flight restrictions] are absolute unless the carriers and operators get waivers. Presumably, if they can move the airplanes, they’re going to want to move the crews,” he said.

El Paso’s geographic isolation compounded the logistical headache. The nearest airports with commercial service are hundreds of miles away — Albuquerque, New Mexico, at least a three-and-a-half-hour drive, and Tucson, Arizona, about four-and-a-half hours by car, according to Google Maps.

“El Paso is really remote. There’s nothing convenient that you’re going to be able to fly to as an alternate. You’re talking hours away,” Mann said, noting airlines may have needed to transport crews over land.

Passenger Rights and Airline Response

Travelers whose flights were affected are entitled to full refunds if they choose not to travel. Airlines are expected to attempt to reaccommodate customers, though options are limited given the region’s distance from other major hubs.

Southwest Airlines acknowledged the disruption in a statement to USA TODAY.

“At the direction of the FAA, Southwest has paused all operations to and from El Paso International Airport. We have notified affected Customers and will share additional information as it becomes available. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of its Customers and Employees,” the airline said.

The carrier did not detail how passengers would be rebooked. Other airlines serving El Paso did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

By Wednesday morning, as the FAA reopens El Paso airport and aircraft engines roar back to life, questions still hover in the desert air. The skies are clear again — but the episode leaves behind a reminder of how swiftly modern aviation can be grounded by forces unseen.