Mexican drug cartel drones or Pentagon-FAA dispute? REAL reason why El Paso airspace was closed
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Mexican drug cartel drones or Pentagon-FAA dispute? REAL reason why El Paso airspace was closed")
US Air Force planes arrive carrying Texas Tactical Border Force guardsmen at the Million Air El Paso ELP airport on March 26, 2024 in El Paso, Texas. Photograph: (AFP)
The Trump administration said that the airspace was closed after Mexican drug cartel drones breached US airspace and were disabled.
The sudden closure of airspace over El Paso, Texas, was forced due to a dispute between the Pentagon and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over plans for a laser test to shoot down drones used by Mexican drug cartels, according to a report. This comes after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halted flight operations at El Paso airport for 10 days, citing security-related concerns, which were later lifted. The Trump administration said that the airspace was closed after Mexican drug cartel drones breached US airspace and were disabled.
Associated Press reported, citing people familiar with the situation, Pentagon’s laser test plans resulted in friction with the FAA, which wanted to ensure commercial air safety, as the two agencies sought to coordinate. Despite a scheduled meeting later this month to discuss the issue, the Pentagon was planning to go ahead with the test, prompting the FAA to shut the airspace over El Paso.
The news agency reported that the laser was deployed near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA, according to a person familiar with the issue, adding that the technology was used despite the scheduled discussions.
While the restrictions were lifted shortly after, it is unusual for an entire airport to shut down for even a short period of time. The incident stranded travellers with luggage lined up at airline counters and car rental desks.
The FAA classified the area as “NTL Defense Airspace” and stated that the restriction that covered airspace over El Paso, Texas, and parts of Santa Teresa and New Mexico, was implemented for “special security reasons.”
Earlier on Wednesday (Feb 11), a US administration official said that Mexican drug cartel drones breached US airspace and were disabled.
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United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said in a post on X, “The FAA and DOW acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion. The threat has been neutralised, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region. The restrictions have been lifted, and normal flights are resuming.”
