The FAA initially imposed a 10-day stoppage, effective early Wednesday morning on flights into and out of El Paso International Airport (ELP) and the Doña Ana County International Jetport near Santa Teresa, N.M. — prompting disruptions for travelers and questions from lawmakers. But less than seven hours after the order took effect, the federal agency reversed course and lifted all restrictions.
A Trump administration official told The Hill that the temporary closure was prompted by Mexican cartel drones breaching U.S. airspace.
But CBS News and Politico reported that the Defense Department and FAA had disagreements over plans to use of anti-drone technology near Fort Bliss, a U.S. Army base close to El Paso. The anti-drone technology, which includes high-energy lasers, was deployed earlier this week to shoot down a party balloon initially believed to be a foreign drone, according to CBS News.
CBS also reported that FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford decided to close the airspace Tuesday night without alerting the White House, Pentagon or Homeland Security officials.
A defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Hill Wednesday morning that the leadership at Fort Bliss was not aware of the FAA's decision to implement the flight restrictions and was not informed when it was lifted.
"That all came as a surprise to the leadership of Fort Bliss," the official said.
The reporting contradicts what the administration told The Hill, as well as what Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said after the FAA lifted the restrictions.
Duffy wrote on X that 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," Duffy added. "The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming."
Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cuz (R-Texas) said he still lacks details on what happened and said he's requesting a classified briefing from FAA and the Pentagon "very soon."
Read the full report at thehill.com.
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