FAA abruptly lifts order halting El Paso flights; Trump official says Defense Dept. disabled Mexican cartel drones

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Wed Feb 11, 2026, 09:51 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNBC

Published Wed, Feb 11 20268:29 AM EST Updated 2 Min Ago


The Federal Aviation Administration abruptly grounded all flights in and out of El Paso International Airport in Texas for 10 days starting Wednesday morning, citing “special security” instructions, and then lifted the order hours later.

A Trump administration official said the Department of Defense disabled Mexican cartel drones that had breached U.S. airspace and that there was no threat to commercial air travel currently.

“The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted,” the FAA said in a post on X. “There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal.”

The airport sits next to Biggs Army Airfield and is near the Mexican border, about 12 miles from Juarez, Mexico. The Pentagon referred a question about the nature of the security issue to the FAA. Flights were initially halted until late Feb. 20 and the ban applied to a 10-nautical-mile area around the airport. The FAA hadn’t immediately disclosed what the security reasons for the temporary sudden halt were or why it was set for so long.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/11/faa-el-paso-airport.html

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REFERENCE - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143614581

Article updated.

Original article/headline -

FAA abruptly lifts order halting El Paso airport flights for 10 days

Published Wed, Feb 11 20268:29 AM EST Updated 2 Min Ago


The Federal Aviation Administration abruptly grounded all flights in and out of El Paso International Airport in Texas for 10 days starting Wednesday, citing “special security” instructions, and then lifted the order hours later.

“The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted,” the FAA said in a post on X. “There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal.”

The FAA didn’t immediately say what the security reasons for the temporary sudden halt were. The airport sits next to Biggs Army Airfield and is near the Mexican border, about 12 miles from Juarez, Mexico. The Pentagon referred a question about the nature of the security issue to the FAA.

Flights were initially halted until late Feb. 20 and the ban applied to a 10-nautical-mile area around the airport. While the FAA regularly halts flights at airports for weather and traffic, a security issue is highly unusual as is an effective airspace closure for this long.

[NCDem47]

1. Oopsies.

Somebody gave away the game and now furious backtracking.

Maybe meant for another time and situation and was premature execution?

[Lovie777]

2. The incompetents oozes...................

[groundloop]

3. Damn this administration is fucking clueless.

[travelingthrulife]

4. Some of Don Jrs drones? Another fake manufactured crisis.

Just like all those caravans of 'illegals' that would cross the border right before elections and then completely disappear after the election.

[Ray Bruns]

5. Warning! Warning!

[2naSalit]

8. LOL!!!

I love that!

[Hugin]

6. Furiously backpedaling...

The latest idiotic Reichtag fire in a Blue dot.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Anyone seen any explanation why they thought it needed 10 days?

It seemed a hell of a long time for any initial announcement, if it was just a reaction to something local overnight.

[Eugene]

9. Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say

Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say (Associated Press)

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — The Pentagon allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser earlier this week, leading the Federal Aviation Administration to suddenly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details.

The confusing arc of events began as the FAA announced it was shutting down all flight traffic over the city on the U.S.-Mexico border for 10 days, stranding some travelers, but the closure ended up only lasting a few hours. The Trump administration said it stemmed from the FAA and Pentagon working to halt an incursion by Mexican cartel drones, which are not uncommon along the southern border.

One of the people said the laser was deployed near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA, which decided then to close the airspace to ensure commercial air safety. Others familiar with the matter said the technology was used despite a meeting scheduled for later this month between the Pentagon and the FAA to discuss the issue.

https://apnews.com/article/faa-el-paso-texas-air-space-closed-1f774bdfd46f5986ff0e7003df709caa