Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace, the Trump administration said, leading to the sudden closure of airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday morning.
The Federal Aviation Administration reopened the airspace around El Paso International Airport hours after it announced a 10-day closure for “special security reasons” that would have grounded all flights landing and leaving.
Later Wednesday, the Trump administration tied the spur of decision-making to drones linked to a Mexican cartel.
“Cartel drones are being shot down by our military,” Attorney General Pam Bondi told Congress.
But several news outlets, including The Associated Press and CBS News, reported that the sudden closure stemmed from the Pentagon’s plans to test a laser for use in shooting down drones used by cartels.
Those plans caused friction with the FAA, which wanted to ensure commercial air safety and the two agencies sought to coordinate, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Despite a meeting scheduled later this month to discuss the issue, the Pentagon wanted to go ahead and test it, prompting the FAA to shutter the airspace. It was unclear whether the laser was ultimately deployed.
An administration statement said the cartels breached U.S. airspace.
“The FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel,” the statement said.
The incursion forced the closure of El Paso airspace, which crosses into two U.S. border states.
“The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal,” the FAA said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA and Defense Department “acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion. The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region.”
Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar, who represents El Paso, stressed that “there is no threat to El Paso or the surrounding areas.”
Ms. Escobar and local officials said the airspace closure caught them by surprise.
The congresswoman said there was “no advance notice provided to my office, the City of El Paso, or anyone involved in airport operations,” in turn creating “significant concern within the community.”
“We’re all trying to work out why this crazy NOTAM was issued by the FAA. Nobody local got advance notice — neither civilian nor military leadership,” wrote El Paso City Rep. Chris Canales wrote on social media.
The El Paso airport describes itself as the gateway to West Texas, southern New Mexico and northern Mexico.
A similar temporary flight restriction was imposed around Santa Teresa, New Mexico, which neighbors the Texas airport.
The Trump administration has targeted drug trafficking and cartel activities. But the closure of airspace on Wednesday was the first such event since the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when U.S. airspace was completely closed for national security.
• This article is based in part on wire-service reports.
• Mary McCue Bell can be reached at mbell@washingtontimes.com.
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