El Carrizo Airport

The official reason is unknown. However, the closure of small, remote, and unpaved airstrips like El Carrizo in this region of northern Mexico is typically attributed to one or more of the following factors:
1. **Economic Non-viability:** The private owner may have ceased operations or could no longer afford the upkeep of the strip.
2. **Abandonment:** The ranch, mine, or business the airstrip was built to serve may have closed down.
3. **Disablement by Authorities:** Mexican military (SEDENA) and federal police frequently disable 'pistas clandestinas' (clandestine airstrips) to prevent their use by drug cartels for smuggling operations. This is often done by digging trenches across the runway or placing large obstacles on it.

The airport is permanently closed and abandoned. Analysis of recent satellite imagery shows a single, unmaintained dirt and gravel runway. There is no visible infrastructure such as hangars, terminals, or lighting. The runway appears weathered and is likely unusable for safe aviation operations, although intermittent tracks suggest it may be used by off-road vehicles. The site is undeveloped and remains a simple, isolated airstrip in the Chihuahuan Desert.

El Carrizo was a private, rural airstrip designed for general aviation. Its primary function was likely to support local activities in a remote and sparsely populated area.

- **Ranching and Agriculture:** It probably served large, private ranches for personal transportation, shipping supplies, or agricultural purposes (e.g., crop dusting).
- **Clandestine Use:** Due to its remote location in the state of Chihuahua, a major corridor for drug trafficking into the United States, it is highly probable that the airstrip was used for illicit activities at some point in its history.
- **Connection to Local Folklore:** The airport is located near the town of Coyame, which is famous for the 'Coyame UFO Incident' of August 1974. According to the story, a UFO and a small civilian aircraft collided in mid-air. While there is no verifiable evidence connecting El Carrizo Airport (MX-2052) to this event, its proximity has made it a point of interest and speculation among researchers of the incident.

There are no known official plans or prospects for reopening El Carrizo Airport. Given its remote location, lack of infrastructure, proximity to more capable regional airports for any legal needs, and the high potential for illicit use, it is extremely unlikely that it will ever be restored to an operational, officially recognized airport.