FAA Shuts Down Airspace Over El Paso for 10 Days — Cites 'National Defense,' Threatens Deadly Force

[bigheadfred]

Jillian Nichols
Published
WED, FEB 11 2026•5:24 AM EST
Updated
WED, FEB 11 2026•5:27 AM EST

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a sudden and unprecedented Notice to Airmen late Tuesday night, immediately halting all flights to and from El Paso, Texas, and parts of southern New Mexico for 10 days. The restriction, which took effect at 11:30 p.m. Mountain Time on Feb 10 and will remain in place until late Feb 20, covers El Paso International Airport and extends into airspace near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The FAA classified the affected zone as "National Defense Airspace" and offered no public explanation for the extraordinary move, which grounds all commercial, cargo, and general aviation operations over the nation's 23rd-largest city.

More at link.

https://t.co/X80PbrQAl8

[catfish1957]

Biggest credible terrorist threat since 9-11, but the media is getting their boner on a kidnapping case story of one woman. 

 

[Timber Rattler]

Maybe one is related to the other?

Or else the U.S. is preparing to attack Mexico from Fort Bliss?

[catfish1957]

Maybe one is related to the other?

Or else the U.S. is preparing to attack Mexico from Fort Bliss?

All I know is if I lived in El Paso, I'd be asking a lot of questions right now

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2021580286379573647

[Timber Rattler]

https://twitter.com/petemuntean/status/2021573468341383284

[Timber Rattler]

It's over.

FAA lifts closure of El Paso airspace; all flights will resume as normal

https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/faa-grounds-all-flights-to-and-from-el-paso-until-feb-20

[txradioguy]

Something is very hinky about this. 

[catfish1957]

It's over.

FAA lifts closure of El Paso airspace; all flights will resume as normal

https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/faa-grounds-all-flights-to-and-from-el-paso-until-feb-20

From a 10 day grounding to this?  WTF?  No statement from DHS?  Some splaining is needed. 

[Timber Rattler]

From a 10 day grounding to this?  WTF?  No statement from DHS?  Some splaining is needed.

Maybe Tom Cruise crashed the Dark Star?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6icdbdMV44

 

[bigheadfred]

Open Source Intel
@Osint613
·
50m
Airline sources tell Reuters the El Paso flight grounding is linked to Pentagon counterdrone operations targeting Mexican cartel drones near the U.S.-Mexico border.

[mystery-ak]

Fox News reporting the FAA has lifted the grounding of all flights..

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2021585156302102908

[bigheadfred]

Jennifer Jacobs
@JenniferJJacobs
·
33m
Replying to @JenniferJJacobs
BREAKING: The decision to close El Paso International Airport to all flights for 10 days was triggered by Mexican cartel drones breaching US airspace, officials told @CBSNews. War Dept took action to disable the drones.

[catfish1957]

Jennifer Jacobs
@JenniferJJacobs
·
33m
Replying to @JenniferJJacobs
BREAKING: The decision to close El Paso International Airport to all flights for 10 days was triggered by Mexican cartel drones breaching US airspace, officials told @CBSNews. War Dept took action to disable the drones.

Crap, this gives the cartels new incentive, knowing buying a few toys can create this level of disruption.

[txradioguy]

A Trump administration official said that the initial lockdown came in response to "Mexican cartel drones" that breached U.S. airspace...and the Department of War took action to disable the drones...the official went on to say that the FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel,"

[txradioguy]

Crap, this gives the cartels new incentive, knowing buying a few toys can create this level of disruption.

Also it would seem...it gave the Army a chance to try out some of its counter drone toys.

[Timber Rattler]

Jennifer Jacobs
@JenniferJJacobs
·
33m
Replying to @JenniferJJacobs
BREAKING: The decision to close El Paso International Airport to all flights for 10 days was triggered by Mexican cartel drones breaching US airspace, officials told @CBSNews. War Dept took action to disable the drones.

That doesn't make sense. Seems like an overreaction, or even a cover story to me.

[bigheadfred]

Secretary Sean Duffy

@SecDuffy
·
31m
The FAA and DOW acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion.

The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region.

The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming.

[catfish1957]

Secretary Sean Duffy

@SecDuffy
·
31m
The FAA and DOW acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion.

The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region.

The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming.

Seems like a plausible explanation, except for the announced 10 day duration.  That part makes no sense.

[American Girl]

Excerpt:
You know that moment when the Mexican cartels push too far into U.S. territory, and the response is swift, decisive, and sends a clear message that America is done playing games? That’s exactly what happened when the FAA closed El Paso airspace after President Trump personally called in the Department of War to take action against Mexican cartel drones that breached U.S. airspace. The drones—likely surveillance or drug-smuggling operations—were disabled by military countermeasures, prompting the immediate airspace shutdown to protect commercial flights and prevent escalation. The FAA and Department of War later determined there was no ongoing threat to commercial travel, and the airspace was reopened. But make no mistake: this was no routine incident. It was a direct cartel incursion, and the response proves Trump is treating it as an act of war.


This is a border breach and it's time for war!

https://redstatenation.com/breaking-faa-closed-el-paso-air-space-after-trumps-call-reopened-but-the-hidden-reason-why-demands-war-with-these-guys/

[Timber Rattler]

Seems like a plausible explanation, except for the announced 10 day duration.  That part makes no sense.

That's why I think it's a cover story.  10-day closure over a "cartel drone" incursion?  What are they flying...Iranian Shaheds?

[bigheadfred]

Better safe than sorry. 

[Wingnut]

I love a good spiracy.  The interwebs will not disappoint on this one.

[verga]

A Trump administration official said that the initial lockdown came in response to "Mexican cartel drones" that breached U.S. airspace...and the Department of War took action to disable the drones...the official went on to say that the FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel,"

Here an idea, hear me out. Get a bunch of those good old boys from West Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama. Tell them those drones were directly involved in the death of Dale Earnhardt. Put a $50 bounty on them and i can guarantee not one will get more than 50 yards over the border again.

[bigheadfred]

Here an idea, hear me out. Get a bunch of those good old boys from West Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama. Tell them those drones were directly involved in the death of Dale Earnhardt. Put a $50 bounty on them and i can guarantee not one will get more than 50 yards over the border again.

 

[catfish1957]

Here an idea, hear me out. Get a bunch of those good old boys from West Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama. Tell them those drones were directly involved in the death of Dale Earnhardt. Put a $50 bounty on them and i can guarantee not one will get more than 50 yards over the border again.

[Wingnut]

Cartel Drones? Drones shmones. Come on guys, you know it was aliens. It's always aliens escaping from Area 51.

[Timber Rattler]

They can't seem to get their stories straight now about what happened...

https://twitter.com/petemuntean/status/2021586247827828812

[Smokin Joe]

Something is very hinky about this. 

Either that or someone desperately wanted to avoid a mid-air like the one over the Potomac.

Keep in mind that drones (without a 'payload') could be used to FOD engines on take-off and climb out, which could bring down commercial or even military aircraft.

[Fishrrman]

American Girl posted in reply 20 above:
"This is a border breach and it's time for war!"

I agree.
It's time to go after the cartels in Mexico with the same ferocity that Israel employed against hamas in Gaza.

Wipe.
Them.
Out.
(if there happens to be collateral damage, well, too durn bad)

[Timber Rattler]

Oh for crying out loud...

Pentagon-FAA dispute over lasers to thwart cartel drones led to El Paso airspace closure, AP sources say

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/pentagon-faa-dispute-over-lasers-to-thwart-cartel-drones-led-to-el-paso-airspace-closure-ap-sources-say/2978618

The sudden and surprising airspace closure over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday stemmed from the Pentagon's plans to test a laser for use in shooting down drones used by Mexican drug cartels, according to three people familiar with the situation who were granted anonymity to share sensitive details.

That caused friction with the Federal Aviation Administration, which wanted to ensure commercial air safety and the two agencies sought to coordinate, according to two of the people.

Despite a meeting scheduled later this month to discuss the issue, the Pentagon wanted to go ahead and test the laser, prompting the FAA to shutter the airspace. It was not clear whether the laser was ultimately deployed.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said earlier that the response by the Defense Department and the FAA to neutralize an incursion by Mexican cartel drones had led to the airspace closure. Drone incursions are not uncommon along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Officials at the White House, FAA and Department of Transportation did not respond immediately to requests for comment about the dispute. The Pentagon said it had nothing to add to its statement that largely mirrored Duffy's comment.

EXCERPT

[BobfromWB]

Maybe one is related to the other?

Or else the U.S. is preparing to attack Mexico from Fort Bliss?

Was a party balloon, not anyone's drone.

[catfish1957]

Was a party balloon, not anyone's drone.

So we basically broadcasted a 9-11 type alert over a party balloon ?

[Timber Rattler]

OMG...

Airspace closure followed spat over drone-related tests and party balloon shoot-down, sources say

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/airspace-closure-followed-spat-over-drone-related-tests-and-party-balloon-shoot-down-sources-say/

The unexpected but brief airspace closure in the Texas border city of El Paso stemmed from disagreements between the Federal Aviation Administration and Pentagon officials over drone-related tests, multiple sources close to the matter told CBS News.

The Pentagon had undertaken extensive planning on the use of military technology near Fort Bliss, a military base that abuts the El Paso International Airport, to practice taking down drones.

Two sources identified the technology as a high-energy laser.

Meetings were scheduled over safety impacts, but Pentagon officials wanted to test the technology sooner, stating that U.S. Code 130i requirements governing the protection of certain facilities from unmanned aircraft had been met.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on Tuesday night decided to close the airspace — without alerting White House, Pentagon or Homeland Security officials, sources said.

Bedford told officials the airspace restrictions would be in place to ensure safety until issues with the War Department could be resolved.

(snip)

The critical bulletin issued to pilots and airlines not to fly below 18,000 feet was initially set for 10 days, a duration for a full grounding not used since the 9/11 terror attacks. The FAA notice warned violators risked being shot down.

Customs and Border Protection used the laser weapon earlier this week after training from the U.S. military, according to multiple sources familiar with its deployment. Officials had recently given the FAA a 10-day window in which the technology would be used.

The anti-drone technology was launched near the southern border to shoot down what appeared to be foreign drones. The flying material turned out to be a party balloon, sources said. One balloon was shot down, several sources said.

EXCERPT