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3h ago

FAA Reopens El Paso Airspace After Dispute Over CBP Use of Pentagon Laser

Reports indicate the shutdown followed uncoordinated tests of a high‑energy anti‑drone laser near Fort Bliss that lacked a completed FAA safety review.

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Helicopters sit at Fort Bliss Air Base, after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration lifted its temporary closure of the airspace over El Paso, saying all flights will resume as normal and that there was no threat to commercial aviation, in El Paso, Texas, U.S., February 11, 2026. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez
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A police officer walks with a K9 police dog at El Paso International Airport, after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration lifted its temporary closure of the airspace over El Paso, saying all flights will resume as normal and that there was no threat to commercial aviation, in El Paso, Texas, U.S., February 11, 2026.

Overview

  • Flights were halted late Tuesday under an unusual 10‑day restriction over El Paso, then restored within hours after the FAA said there was no threat to commercial aviation.
  • Multiple outlets report CBP, recently trained by the military, used a Pentagon‑loaned laser near the airport to target objects later identified as party balloons, without prior FAA coordination.
  • People briefed on the matter say the FAA had not finished assessing risks posed by the laser and had warned the Pentagon it could close nearby airspace absent sufficient time and data.
  • The closure grounded emergency aviation and diverted medical evacuations to Las Cruces, prompting sharp criticism from El Paso officials over a lack of communication.
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the action to a cartel drone incursion, a claim disputed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, while Congress pressed for briefings and an interagency safety meeting is slated for Feb. 20.