El Paso airport awaits FAA guidance as nationwide ground stop continues

El Paso airport awaits FAA guidance as nationwide ground stop continues by Staff Fri, November 13, 2026 at 3:26 PM 4 VIEW ALL PHOTOS El Paso airport awaits FAA guidance as nationwide ground stop continues (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4) Comment on this story 0 Comment Share story Share topics: El Paso FAA Ground stop Air traffic Flight delays Communication issue Notice to Air Missions Transportation Secretary EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Air travelers in the Borderland could see delays after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide ground stop Friday, directing airports to hold departing traffic because of “extraordinary circumstances” and safety concerns. In a statement to KFOX14/CBS4, El Paso International Airport said it is monitoring the situation and is awaiting further guidance from the FAA regarding the ongoing ground stop and its impact on flights. "Passengers are encouraged to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight status information, including potential delays or cancellations, before traveling to the airport," a spokesperson for the El Pso International Airport said. Las Cruces Airport Director Brad Weems also said the airport is monitoring the situation and following FAA guidance. “There is minimum impact for our local air traffic. Any non-local traffic will be impacted and delayed until the issue is resolved. We are monitoring the status and following the guidance of the FAA. We will update as more information becomes available,” Weems said. An FAA air traffic control advisory said all departing traffic should remain grounded until further notice. Inbound international flights will be handled on a case-by-case basis, according to the advisory. The advisory listed the ground stop’s event window as beginning at 4:53 p.m. ET Friday and running through 11 p.m. ET. That is the listed window, and the FAA could update it. According to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, technicians are investigating a "communication issue." However, the FAA had not immediately explained what prompted the order. The ground stop marks the third time in recent aviation history a ground stop of this magnitude was ordered. The other two incidents were September 11, 2001 and January 2023. The most recent halt of all flights in the country was due to an outage of pre-departure safety briefings, also known as Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM). Passengers should check with their airlines for flight-specific updates as the situation develops. This is a developing story, check back for updates. RECOMMENDED: FAA issues nationwide ground stop, cites 'extraordinary circumstances' Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox NEWS IN PHOTOS: " Local " 4 NEW El Paso airport awaits FAA guidance as nationwide ground stop continues 4 Lights on the Lake returns to Ascarate Park Dec. 5 with free nightly holiday displays 4 El Paso police issue CLEAR Alert as search continues for man and woman 3 Man charged after alleged public lewdness inside El Paso County daycare