Air travelers in West Texas went to bed Tuesday night with no warning, and woke up to find a major American airport effectively shut down. In a move that stunned local officials, airlines, and even parts of the federal government, the Federal Aviation Administration abruptly halted flights in and out of El Paso International Airport late Tuesday, citing “special security reasons.” The 10-mile airspace restriction — stretching up to 18,000 feet — was initially set to last 10 days. Instead, it lasted about seven and a half hours. By sunrise Wednesday, flights were back on schedule. But the questions were just beginning.
What triggered the shutdown?
According to an administration official, Mexican drug cartel drones breached US airspace near El Paso, prompting the Pentagon to take action to disable them. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later described it as a “cartel drone incursion,” saying the threat had been neutralized and that commercial travel was safe.
But multiple federal and airline sources tell a more complicated story.
Those sources say the shutdown was tied not just to cartel drones, but to a high-energy, laser-based counter-drone system the US Army has been testing at Fort Bliss — a massive military installation that sits just north of El Paso International Airport.
The Army had been planning to test the laser system. However, coordination with the FAA about potential risks to civilian aircraft was still ongoing. FAA and Defense Department officials were reportedly scheduled to meet later this month to discuss safety measures. Instead, the Pentagon moved forward sooner than expected.
That triggered alarm inside the FAA, which opted to temporarily close the airspace until safety concerns could be sorted out.
Lasers in the sky?
While officials have not detailed exactly how the Pentagon disabled the alleged drones, a social media account connected to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering posted an image appearing to show a directed-energy laser striking small drones, alongside the caption: “defend the homeland.”
Separately, sources say the military used the laser system earlier in the week to shoot down four mylar balloons — an action that may have further heightened aviation safety concerns.
Directed-energy weapons are not science fiction. The US military has been testing high-energy laser systems for drone defense in recent years, including exercises at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. The Army has also sought industry proposals for an Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) counter-drone system.
The idea is simple: use focused energy beams to disable small drones cheaply and quickly. The reality, however, becomes more complex when those systems operate next to busy civilian airports handling around 100 flights a day.
Chaos on the ground
El Paso International Airport handles roughly 3.5 to 4 million passengers annually and is the gateway to West Texas, southern New Mexico, and northern Mexico. The sudden grounding stranded aircraft from Southwest, American, and United. Medical evacuation flights were disrupted. Travelers were confused.
Audio from LiveATC.net captured the disbelief in real time.
“Ground stop for 10 days,” an air traffic controller told a pilot.
“Ten days?” the pilot replied, laughing in disbelief.
Local officials were equally stunned.
El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson said neither city leaders nor airport officials were notified before the shutdown. Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar, whose district includes the airport and Fort Bliss, called the move “highly consequential” and said local leaders were left “completely in the dark.”
Even the White House was reportedly caught off guard. According to multiple sources, the decision was made without first notifying senior West Wing officials, prompting urgent early-morning discussions to sort out what had happened.
Transportation Security Administration Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told Congress she had not been informed either.
“That’s a problem,” said Rep. Tony Gonzales, noting that drone incursions along the southern border are common — reportedly more than 1,000 per month in 2024, according to US Northern Command.
Cartel drones are real, but common
There’s no question that Mexican drug cartels use drones. They’ve deployed them for surveillance, smuggling, and even explosive attacks against rival groups and law enforcement.
Small, inexpensive drones have become a growing headache for militaries worldwide. Western nations are increasingly investing in both kinetic defenses — like missiles and guns — and electronic or directed-energy solutions to counter them.
Still, officials note that drone sightings near airports typically lead to brief traffic pauses, not sweeping 10-day closures of commercial airspace.
That disconnect has fueled scrutiny. Was the shutdown primarily about cartel drones? Or was it about ensuring a powerful new laser defense system wouldn’t accidentally interfere with civilian aircraft?
So far, the Pentagon has declined to elaborate.
But it’s worth noting this incident unfolds amid heightened regional tensions. The Trump administration has repeatedly threatened military action against Mexican drug cartels and recently carried out a controversial operation in Venezuela that disrupted Caribbean airspace.
Against that backdrop, an abrupt domestic airspace shutdown — even one lasting only hours — carries political and diplomatic weight. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government would seek clarification but had no immediate information about drone activity along the border.
So, what happens next? Well, by mid-morning Wednesday, the FAA lifted the flight restrictions after the Army reportedly agreed to conduct additional safety tests before deploying the laser system again near El Paso.
Flights resumed. Travelers rebooked. Airlines issued waivers. But aviation experts say the bigger issue is transparency and coordination. Do we even get an explanation?
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