With "Storm Area 51" Looming, FAA Shuts Down Area 51 Airspace

They want clear skies in case they need to fly people to safety.

No Fly Zone

In July, a Facebook user created an event urging people to "storm" Area 51, the top-secret Nevada military base suspected of housing UFOs and, perhaps, evidence of aliens. The event's creators soon realized just how terrible of an idea it would be to raid a military base and replaced the initial event with a far less risky music festival dubbed Alienstock.

Now, with the festival — or something like it, after drama between organizers — just days away from kicking off, the Federal Aviation Administration has announced that it's closing down airspace over Area 51 for the weekend.

Help Is on the Way

Based on a statement from Chris Sukach, a spokesperson for Nellis Air Force Base, the temporary flight restriction over two areas near Area 51 is for the benefit of anyone attending Alienstock.

"This particular [temporary flight restriction] was requested to assist with public safety for the planned events of this weekend," Sukach told CNET, "and to ensure the safety of flight for emergency/life-saving flights, including medical, law enforcement, and firefighting aircraft."

Safety First

Given Alienstock's remote setting and huge number of potential attendees, the event has all the makings of an epic clusterfuck. Heck, its creators even tried to cancel the fest amid concerns it would be a "humanitarian disaster."

Hopefully, this flight restriction over the area will make it easier for officials to prevent that disaster from coming to fruition — or at least get people to safety if it does.

READ MORE: Storm Area 51's 'Alienstock' prompts FAA ban on surrounding airspace [CNET]

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