El Huérfano Airport

Aldama, MX 🇲🇽 Closed Airport

ICAO

MX-2081

IATA

-

Elevation

4338 ft

Region

MX-CHH

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 29.11823° N, -105.52007° E

Continent: NA

Type: Closed Airport

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

External Links

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Airport Information

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 26, 2025
Closure Date

Circa 2011

Reason for Closure

The airport, which was a private airstrip on a large ranch, was not closed for typical economic or operational reasons. It was seized by the Mexican Army (SEDENA) in a major operation against organized crime. The airstrip was being used for illicit logistics, primarily drug trafficking, by a cell of the Sinaloa Cartel. The closure was a direct result of this law enforcement and military intervention.

Current Status

The site, including the entire Rancho El Huérfano and the airstrip, remains under the control of the Mexican federal government. After its seizure, such properties are typically turned over to the 'Instituto para Devolver al Pueblo lo Robado' (INDEP), the Institute to Return Stolen Goods to the People. The airstrip is defunct and inactive. The area is likely secured by military or federal police forces and is not accessible or used for any public or private aviation.

Historical Significance

El Huérfano Airport was never a public or commercial facility. Its significance is tied to its role as a clandestine 'narco-pista' (narco-airstrip). Located on the sprawling 'Rancho El Huérfano,' the airstrip was a strategic asset for a powerful drug cartel. It was used to fly in and out illegal goods, weapons, and personnel, bypassing official checkpoints. The 2011 seizure of the ranch and airstrip was a significant event in the Mexican government's efforts against drug cartels in the state of Chihuahua, uncovering not only the airstrip but also exotic animals, luxury vehicles, and a large weapons cache on the property.

Reopening Prospects

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening El Huérfano Airport. Given its history as a critical piece of infrastructure for a criminal organization and its status as a seized government asset, it is extremely unlikely that it would ever be returned to service for civilian or commercial use. Its remote location and infamous past make it unsuitable for any legitimate aviation development.

Nearby Airports

El Uno (Rancho El Huérfano) Airport
MX-2082
Aldama, MX
Closed Airport
~3 km away
Estación Colonias Airport
MX-2080
Aldama, MX
Closed Airport
~13 km away
Huerta 7433 Airstrip
MX-1880
Aldama, MX
Small Airport
~27 km away
Trancas Airport
MX-2083
Aldama, MX
Closed Airport
~28 km away
El Hueso Airport
MX-2059
Aldama, MX
Closed Airport
~32 km away
Colonias Piedras Negras (El Potrero) Airport
MX-2060
Aldama, MX
Closed Airport
~39 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

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