Imagine waking up to find the skies above your city suddenly shut down for vague “security reasons” with just three hours’ notice. This happened in El Paso, Texas, on the US-Mexico border, causing chaos for thousands of travelers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) abruptly announced a 10-day flight restriction around El Paso International Airport, even threatening “deadly force” for non-compliance. Yet, just hours later, the FAA reversed its decision, declaring “no threat to commercial aviation” and that “all flights will resume as normal.”
So, what happened? The explanations offered are a tangled web of conflicting narratives:
Officials initially claimed Mexican cartel drones invaded US airspace. While a US Transportation Secretary tweeted about a “cartel drone incursion” being “neutralized,” the New York Times cited sources saying the closure was for testing anti-drone technology, aimed at combating drone-smuggled fentanyl.
Then came the most bizarre twist: CBS News reported the shutdown stemmed from FAA/Pentagon disagreements over “drone-related tests” with a high-energy laser. Astoundingly, this technology shot down what was thought to be a foreign drone… which turned out to be just a party balloon!
Local leaders were outraged. El Paso’s Congresswoman stated the administration’s information “does not add up,” and the mayor slammed the “unacceptable” communication failure. Mexico’s President also expressed confusion, noting “no information regarding drone use at the border.”
This perplexing incident highlights a serious communication breakdown and a bewildering official response, leaving many to wonder the true story behind El Paso’s brief, mysterious airspace closure.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/11/faa-close-airspace-el-paso-texas-airport
