Temporary shutdown of El Paso Airport blamed on cartel drones

The FAA released a NOTAM that halted all flights to and from the El Paso International Airport (ELP) before rescinding the order. The temporary flight restriction was supposed to last from Feb. 11 to 21, but was rescinded by the FAA hours later. The agency originally cited special security reasons for the closure, according to New York Times. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy and White House officials claim that Mexican cartel drones breaching U.S. airspace is what caused the closure. It has not stated how many drones were involved or how they were made inoperable, according The Sun. Others claim that plans to test a laser for use in shooting down those same drones were what caused the restrictions. Despite a meeting scheduled later this month to discuss concerns about commercial air safety, the Pentagon wanted to go ahead and test the laser, prompting the FAA to shut down the airspace, according to AP News. It is unknown if a laser was deployed. "There was not a threat, which is why the F.A.A. lifted this restriction so quickly," said Representative Veronica Escobar, an El Paso Democrat. "The information coming from the administration does not add up. Escobar claims that neither her office, the city of El Paso or airport operations received advance notice. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson states the failure to communicate to state and local officials was unacceptable and caused a series of chaotic events around the city, including medical evacuation flights being forced to divert to Las Cruces, almost 45 miles to the northwest. RELATED STORIES: Cuba warns that refueling is not available as aviation fuel runs outDOT initiates audit of air traffic controller training at FAA Academy Trump plans reopening Venezuelan airspace; American Airlines plans first flights "I believe the FAA owes the community and the country an explanation as to why this happened so suddenly and abruptly and was lifted so suddenly and abruptly," said Escobar in a news conference. "This unnecessary decision has caused chaos and confusion in the El Paso community," said Johnson. "I want to be very, very clear that this should've never happened. You cannot restrict air space over a major city without coordinating with the city, the airport, the hospitals, the community leadership."