El Paso Airspace Closed for 10 Days After Uncoordinated Military Anti-Drone Move—What Didn't the FAA Know?

El Paso airspace was closed for 10 days after the Department of Defense deployed high-energy laser technology to counter potential drone incursions, according to multiple sources briefed on the situation.

The closure, which began at 11:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, affected commercial flights and left city officials and residents blindsided. Sources said the move was uncoordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration, which had not completed a safety assessment before the military action.

Officials warned that insufficient coordination could pose risks to aircraft, prompting the FAA to impose one of the rarest airspace shutdowns in the agency's history.

Anti-Drone Deployment and FAA Concerns

The military has been developing anti-drone systems to intercept drones used by Mexican cartels near the US-Mexico border. These drones are reportedly employed to track Border Patrol agents and smuggle contraband into the United States.

As reported by The New York Times, sources familiar with the shutdown said the airspace closure was prompted by the Defense Department's testing of new anti-drone technology before the FAA had completed a safety review, and that the system had earlier been used against what turned out to be a party balloon.

FAA officials reportedly objected to the deployment, stating that it had not been given adequate information to complete a safety review.

According to sources, the agency warned the Pentagon that without proper coordination, it would have no choice but to shut down the airspace. A meeting between aviation and military officials to discuss the technology's implications was scheduled for 20 February but was not moved forward, leading to the FAA's unprecedented 10-day closure.

Conflicting Statements From Officials

The Trump administration said that a sudden drone incursion from Mexican cartels necessitated the airspace closure. Pentagon officials maintained that the military response was justified and necessary for national security. Sources familiar with the situation, however, said that the FAA had not agreed that any immediate threat warranted the extended closure.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said there was no verified information regarding drone incursions along the border at the time of the airspace shutdown. Federal agencies largely declined to comment further, with the FAA and Department of Transportation providing no additional details on the decision-making process.

Historical Context and Rarity of Closure

Drone activity along the US-Mexico border has been a growing concern. In mid-2024, officials reported that around 27,000 drones had flown within 500 metres of the border over six months.

The FAA typically avoids long-term closures, even during high-risk situations, to minimise disruption to commercial air traffic.

By comparison, when the US military carried out operations around Venezuela in January, airspace closures lasted only 24 hours, highlighting the unusual scale of El Paso's 10-day shutdown.

Political and Community Reactions

Local officials expressed frustration at the lack of communication. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson said that restricting airspace over a major city without consulting the airport, hospitals, or city leadership was unacceptable.

Lawmakers also called for clarity. Representative Veronica Escobar noted that while drone incursions are common, the FAA's extended response was extraordinary. Senator Ted Cruz said he was gathering information about inter-agency coordination and hoped more details would be shared publicly in the coming days.

Ongoing Questions

Uncertainty remains about whether the closure was triggered by a misidentified object or broader security concerns. Aviation and military observers are examining how the deployment of anti-drone technology over populated areas could affect future operations.

The incident raises questions about inter-agency coordination and the balance between national security measures and civilian air safety.