El Capitán Airport

While no official reason has been published, the most probable cause is economic. As a small, private airfield, its operation was likely tied to the financial status or needs of its owner, presumably a local ranch or business. Closure is common for such airstrips due to high maintenance costs, a change in property ownership, or the owner no longer requiring private air access. There is no evidence of a major accident or military conversion leading to its closure.

The airport is abandoned and completely inactive. Satellite imagery shows a single, unpaved (dirt or gravel) runway, approximately 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) in length, that is no longer maintained. The surface is eroded, overgrown with desert scrub, and bisected by informal vehicle tracks. There are no remaining buildings, hangars, or any other aviation infrastructure visible at the site. The land has effectively reverted to undeveloped rangeland.

El Capitán Airport was a private airfield (aeródromo privado) with local, not national, significance. Its non-standard ICAO identifier (MX-1733, as official Mexican airports begin with 'MM') indicates it was not a federally managed public airport. Its primary purpose was almost certainly to serve a large private ranch, possibly named 'Rancho El Capitán,' which is a common practice in the rural, expansive regions of Northern Mexico. Operations would have consisted of general aviation, handling small, single-engine, or light twin-engine aircraft for transporting owners, guests, and supplies. It may also have supported agricultural aviation or hunting tourism activities in the area.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening El Capitán Airport. Given its remote location, the complete lack of infrastructure, and its original purpose as a private strip, a reopening is highly improbable. It would require a significant private investment from a new owner of the surrounding land who has a specific need for an airfield.