A sudden airspace shutdown over El Paso, Texas, raised questions about military drone operations and counter-drone testing near a busy civilian airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday issued a short notice to pilots, stating airspace near El Paso International Airport would close for 10 days due to special security reasons.
Later, on Wednesday morning, the FAA lifted the restriction almost as quickly as it had imposed it. The brief, suspicious closure left pilots, authorities and civilians confused.
Pentagon Behind Closure
According to officials familiar with the situation, the airspace was restricted because the Pentagon was flying drones and testing high-energy laser systems in the area. The operations were part of efforts to counter possible drone threats, including those linked to Mexican drug cartels.
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Reportedly, the Defense Department wanted to accelerate testing beyond the original plan. The FAA and the Pentagon had scheduled a Feb. 20 meeting to discuss the safety impacts of counter-drone technology. But the Pentagon decided not to wait.
The drones were reportedly operating outside normal flight paths. That raised concerns within the FAA about potential interference with civilian aircraft. El Paso International Airport shares airspace with a nearby US Army base, making coordination critical.
The Defense Department did not comment publicly on the drone flights or laser testing. The FAA also did not issue a detailed explanation after lifting the restriction.
Cartel Drone Threat
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the shutdown was in response to cartel-operated drones that had crossed into US airspace. He wrote on X that the FAA and Defense Department “acted swiftly” and had “neutralized” the threat.
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US President Trump has repeatedly vowed to crack down on Mexican drug cartels. In recent years, criminal groups have used drones for surveillance, smuggling, and even attacks against rivals.
Last year, senior Homeland Security officials told lawmakers that cartels were using weaponized drones. They warned that such drones could threaten US military or law enforcement operations along the southern border.
However, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum pushed back against claims of a drone incursion. During a news conference, she said, “There is no information about the use of drones at the border.” She added that her government would look into the reasons behind the airspace closure in Texas.
Lawmakers Demand Answers
Senator Ted Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, said, “The details of what exactly occurred over El Paso are unclear.” He added that lawmakers would seek a classified briefing to understand what happened.
Representatives Rick Larsen and André Carson also criticized the situation. They called it “unacceptable” in a joint statement. They argued that recent legislation expanding the Pentagon’s counter-drone powers allows the department “to act recklessly in the public airspace.”
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FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford briefed senators on air traffic modernization efforts around the same time. When asked about El Paso, he said he would respond directly to Cruz about a classified briefing but declined to discuss details publicly.
No Advance Warning
Chris Canales, a member of El Paso’s city council, said federal authorities gave no notice to the city, airport, or local military presence before the closure.
“We have no reason to believe that there is any kind of imminent safety threat to El Paso,” Canales said in an email before the restriction was lifted. “But we still have no reason for the flight restriction provided by the FAA or any federal authority.”
For a city that relies on both civilian and military aviation, the sudden move caused concern. Even though the closure lasted only a few hours, a 10-day restriction would have had serious economic and logistical effects.
Focus on Counter-Drone Technology
The US military has spent years developing directed energy weapons, including high-energy lasers, to counter enemy drones. These systems are seen as cheaper and more flexible than traditional missile defenses.
Testing such systems near shared airspace is sensitive. Military activity must align with FAA safety standards to avoid risks to commercial flights.
In late 2024, the FAA urged pilots to exercise caution due to heightened military activity in or around Venezuela. Authorities later closed parts of Caribbean airspace during a US military raid to capture Venezuela’s then-president, Nicolas Maduro.
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The El Paso incident shows how quickly military testing and civilian aviation can intersect.
Confusion Clouds Bigger Picture
For now, key questions remain unanswered. Was the closure triggered by cartel drones, Pentagon testing, or both? Why were local authorities not informed? And what safeguards are in place to prevent similar confusion?
The Pentagon’s push to counter drone threats reflects real security concerns. Cartels have expanded their use of unmanned aircraft along the border. At the same time, testing advanced laser systems near civilian airports demands careful coordination.
As lawmakers demand classified briefings, the incident may lead to tighter oversight of military operations in shared airspace.
However, the brief and uninformed shoutdown of a civilian airport has left a lasting sense of uncertainty and a renewed debate over how the US balances national security with public transparency.
