Air space closed over El Paso.

Monad Portal

Monad Portal

Was it me?
Why is airspace closed over El Paso.

facts or speculation are welcome.



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All flights to and from El Paso International Airport are currently grounded for 10 days due to "special security reasons" as announced by the Federal Aviation Administration. This restriction, which includes the airspace over El Paso and nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico, is classified as national defense airspace, and violations may result in severe consequences.

elpasomatters.org Fox Business

Airspace Closure Over El Paso​

Overview of the Closure​

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded all flights to and from El Paso International Airport for 10 days due to "special security reasons." This restriction began on February 10, 2026, at 11:30 p.m. MST and will last until February 20, 2026, at the same time.

Details of the Restrictions​

  • Affected Area: The closure includes airspace over El Paso and the nearby community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
  • Type of Airspace: The area is classified as "national defense airspace," which means that any aircraft violating the restrictions may be intercepted or face severe consequences, including the potential use of deadly force if deemed a threat.
  • Flight Types Affected: All types of flights are grounded, including commercial, cargo, and general aviation.

Implications​

  • Economic Impact: The closure could result in significant economic losses for El Paso, estimated between $40 million to $50 million.
  • Lack of Communication: Local officials and airport staff were reportedly caught off guard by the sudden announcement, indicating a lack of prior notice from federal authorities.
Travelers are advised to contact their airlines for the latest updates on flight statuses during this period.
Wikipedia Moneycontrol
 
Monad Portal said:
Why is airspace closed over El Paso.

facts or speculation are welcome.



Search Assist

All flights to and from El Paso International Airport are currently grounded for 10 days due to "special security reasons" as announced by the Federal Aviation Administration. This restriction, which includes the airspace over El Paso and nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico, is classified as national defense airspace, and violations may result in severe consequences.

elpasomatters.org Fox Business

Airspace Closure Over El Paso​

Overview of the Closure​

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded all flights to and from El Paso International Airport for 10 days due to "special security reasons." This restriction began on February 10, 2026, at 11:30 p.m. MST and will last until February 20, 2026, at the same time.

Details of the Restrictions​

  • Affected Area: The closure includes airspace over El Paso and the nearby community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
  • Type of Airspace: The area is classified as "national defense airspace," which means that any aircraft violating the restrictions may be intercepted or face severe consequences, including the potential use of deadly force if deemed a threat.
  • Flight Types Affected: All types of flights are grounded, including commercial, cargo, and general aviation.

Implications​

  • Economic Impact: The closure could result in significant economic losses for El Paso, estimated between $40 million to $50 million.
  • Lack of Communication: Local officials and airport staff were reportedly caught off guard by the sudden announcement, indicating a lack of prior notice from federal authorities.
Travelers are advised to contact their airlines for the latest updates on flight statuses during this period.
Wikipedia Moneycontrol
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Well the Venezuela soup boat fentanyl smuggling was crushed so now Trump’s moved on to another crisis, Mexican gang drones carrying coke
 
archives said:
Well the Venezuela soup boat fentanyl smuggling was crushed so now Trump’s moved on to another crisis, Mexican gang drones carrying coke
Click to expand...
with Simon bar sinister.

SimonBarSinister.jpg
 
It had something to do with US military operations nearby and drones but the exact picture isn't clear on what was going on. Speculation in some sources is that Mexican cartel drones crossed the border and the US military was using anti-drone technology to shoot them down. In any case, it was definitely something to do with nearby US military installations and operations.
 
A Laser Weapon Targeted Suspected Drones. It Hit Party Balloons Instead.

CBP fired the laser thinking it was aiming at cartel drones, leading the FAA to close the airspace over El Paso and causing an uproar in Washington

Bryan Bedford wasn’t happy. Against the expressed wishes of the FAA, officials from Customs and Border Protection had used the Pentagon’s high-energy laser weapon to shoot down what it thought was a handful of Mexican cartel drones on the southern border, according to three people familiar with the discussions.

Bedford, the Federal Aviation Administration chief, issued a notice late Tuesday night that the FAA would close the airspace covering a roughly 11-mile radius over El Paso International Airport for 10 days, stunning officials at the White House, Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the CBP.

The aerial objects turned out to likely be party balloons, and the laser weapon is an experimental system the military uses overseas that can pose serious risk to commercial aviation.

The episode sowed chaos for a few hours in the Texas city, forcing hospitals to divert medical flights and travelers to cancel their plans. It also caused an uproar in Washington, particularly at the Pentagon, where officials scrambled to figure out what had happened and who was to blame.

The FAA lifted the restrictions hours later, with little explanation. The FAA and Pentagon determined there was no threat to commercial travel, Trump administration officials said.

The incident sheds light on a longstanding spat between the FAA and the Pentagon over which government authorities are responsible for taking down drone threats over major airports and military bases, and the use of laser weapons to do the job.

 
T. A. Gardner said:
It had something to do with US military operations nearby and drones but the exact picture isn't clear on what was going on. Speculation in some sources is that Mexican cartel drones crossed the border and the US military was using anti-drone technology to shoot them down. In any case, it was definitely something to do with nearby US military installations and operations.
Click to expand...
It appears that trump's military was shooting down random things, including at least one Border Patrol drone. The system was locking onto passenger flights, with the operator repeatedly having to cancel launches against it.

Luckily no one died, but i was certainly just luck.
 
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