US officials lift surprise 10-day closure of airspace around El Paso, Texas

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Oliver HolmesFebruary 11, 2026 at 03:58 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

The FAA abruptly closed airspace around El Paso, Texas, including the international airport, for 10 days citing "special security reasons" before reversing the decision hours later. The closure, impacting commercial, cargo, and general aviation flights within a 10-nautical-mile radius, caused widespread disruption and concern among airlines, local politicians, and travelers. The FAA later stated there was no threat to commercial aviation and flights would resume normally. Sources suggest the initial grounding was related to the Pentagon's use of counter-drone technology to address Mexican drug cartels using drones near the border. A US official claimed Mexican cartel drones had breached US airspace. A Democratic Texas congresswoman criticized the lack of notice and stated there was no immediate threat to the community.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Reuters 30% Pentagon 40% Donald Trump 50% Veronica Escobar 50% Mexican Drug Cartels ×260% Mexico ×260% United States ×270% El Paso, Texas ×680% Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ×590%

Keywords

airspace closure 100% el paso 90% federal aviation administration (faa) 80% us-mexico border 70% drug cartels 60% counter-drone technology 60% temporary flight restriction 50% aviation 40%