EL PASO, Texas (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration briefly closed airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday after the Pentagon authorized U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser, according to two people familiar with the situation. The closure, initially announced as a 10-day restriction, ultimately lasted only a few hours.
Airspace Closure Due to Anti-Drone Laser Deployment
The FAA shut down flight traffic over the city on the U.S.-Mexico border as a precaution after the laser was deployed near Fort Bliss without prior coordination, sources said. The Trump administration attributed the closure to efforts to counter incursions by drones operated by Mexican cartels, a common occurrence along the southern border.
The technology was reportedly used despite a scheduled meeting later this month between the Pentagon and the FAA to discuss the issue. Normal flights resumed after seven arrivals and seven departures were canceled, and some medical evacuation flights were rerouted.
Travelers were impacted by the sudden closure. Jorge Rueda and Yamilexi Meza of Las Cruces, New Mexico, had their flight to Portland, Oregon, canceled, disrupting their Valentine’s Day weekend plans. They were later rebooked on an evening flight.
Coordination Concerns Echo Past Incidents
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about coordination between the FAA and the Pentagon. An investigation into a midair collision near Washington, D.C., last year revealed a lack of data sharing and risk assessment regarding close calls around Reagan National Airport.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., described the airspace closure as another example of “the lack of coordination that’s endemic in this Trump administration.” Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he would request a briefing from the FAA.
Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, whose district includes El Paso, stated that her office and local officials received no advance notice of the closure and that the information provided by the federal government was inconsistent. “I believe the FAA owes the community and the country an explanation,” Escobar said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the airspace was closed to halt an incursion by Mexican cartel drones and that “the threat has been neutralized.” Officials at the Department of Homeland Security, FAA and Department of Transportation did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Cartel Drone Activity is Common
Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, whose district covers a large portion of the Texas-Mexico border, said cartel drone sightings are a daily occurrence. Steven Willoughby, deputy director of the counter-drone program at the Department of Homeland Security, told Congress in July that cartels use drones nearly every day to transport drugs and surveil Border Patrol agents. Over 27,000 drones were detected within 500 meters of the southern border in the last six months of 2024, mostly at night.
Experts say a complete airport shutdown over a security issue is rare. Rich Davis, a former chief security officer at United Airlines, noted that officials typically isolate specific risks rather than shutting down an entire airport.
Mexican Officials Seek Clarification
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had “no information about the use of drones on the border” and indicated that U.S. authorities should contact Mexico’s government if they have further details. Mexican defense and navy secretaries are scheduled to meet with U.S. Northern Command officials in Washington to discuss the matter.
El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson said he was not informed of the closure until after the alert was issued. “Decisions made without notice and coordination puts lives at risk and creates unnecessary danger and confusion,” Johnson said. “This was a major and unnecessary disruption, one that has not occurred since 9/11.”
A similar temporary flight restriction remained in place Wednesday around Santa Teresa, New Mexico, about 15 miles northwest of the El Paso airport. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., said he was seeking answers from the FAA and the Trump administration regarding the closure.
Travel plans on both sides of the border were disrupted. María Aracelia, who was traveling from Ciudad Juarez to Illinois, faced uncertainty after receiving a notification about the 10-day closure, only to later learn the airport had reopened.
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