"A notice to pilots classified the area as "national defense airspace," and warned that deadly force may be used against aircraft violating the restriction, standard language for such designations. What they're saying: "All flights to and from El Paso are grounded, including commercial, cargo and general aviation," El Paso International Airport posted on Facebook early Wednesday. "Travelers should contact their airlines to get most up-to-date flight status information.""
"Between the lines: The FAA issues TFRs all the time for lots of different reasons - one recently protected the airspace over Sunday's Super Bowl, for example. But it's highly unusual to shut down the airspace over a major American city for a prolonged stretch of time without a clear explanation. Also strange: The language of the TFR doesn't include the typical carve-outs for first responder and military aircraft."
A temporary flight restriction designated a 10-mile ring around El Paso as national defense airspace and grounded all flights to and from El Paso, including commercial, cargo and general aviation. El Paso International Airport notified travelers to contact airlines for current flight status. The FAA had not immediately commented, and local officials reported no advance notice. The TFR unusually lacks explicit carve-outs for first responders and military flights and includes Biggs Army Airfield while excluding Mexican airspace within the ring. TFRs are routinely used for events and can be rescinded early by the FAA.
Read at Axios
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