There was no threat. The airport was closed over a coordination issue between DOD and the FAA over a test of a laser counter drone system at Ft Bliss.

For those unfamiliar with Army posts, Ft Bliss is where air defense training is conducted

Just bad communication between the DoD and the FAA...and the FAA overreacted with the 10-day closure

Shoot first, ask questions later?

Is Secretary Duffy lying?

https://www.breitbart.com/bord...tm_campaign=20260211

A cartel drone incursion over El Paso prompted the FAA’s unprecedented national‑defense airspace shutdown over El Paso and eastern New Mexico, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The incident raises new questions about cross‑border threats as federal agencies remain silent on the details.

Secretary Duffy says a cartel drone breach forced the FAA to lock down El Paso’s airspace under a deadly‑force order, even as other federal agencies refuse to explain why the emergency was imposed — or why it was lifted within hours. Breitbart Texas reached out to the Department of Transportation, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other federal agencies for additional information. No response has been received at this time.

In a post on social media, Duffy wrote: “The FAA and DOW acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion. The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region.”

cont...

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
You guys trying to get this thread locked?

“Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.”
— Plato

"I know, right?" --- Protagoras

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
It was Aliens, and I will not accept any information to the contrary.

Illegal?

quote:

Originally posted by k5blazer:
Party balloon.

https://www.foxnews.com/politi...-drone-official-says

https://www.newsmax.com/us/mex...dkt_nbr=010504jqbfr4

Mexico's Sheinbaum Denies Drone Incursion in El Paso Airspace

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum is rejecting U.S. claims that drones from her country entered American airspace near El Paso, Texas.

"There is no information about the use of drones on the border," she said, according to Newsweek.

The Federal Aviation Administration shut down the airspace around El Paso International Airport late Tuesday, grounding flights and signaling the closure could last up to 10 days.

Within hours, the FAA reversed course and lifted the restriction Wednesday, leaving local officials scrambling for answers.

Sheinbaum said her government would investigate "the exact causes of why they closed" the airspace.

The White House, however, pointed directly to cartel-linked drone activity in a statement to Newsweek.

"Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace. The Department of Defense took action to disable the drones," the statement said. "The FAA and DOD have determined there is no threat to commercial travel."

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also said the "threat has been neutralized" and flights could resume.

"There's no need for speculation," Sheinbaum said. "We're going to have information, and as always, continue our permanent communication" with the U.S.

In a post on X, the FAA said it had "lifted" its "temporary closure of airspace over El Paso."

"There is no threat to commercial aviation," the agency said. "All flights will resume as normal."

Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat whose district includes El Paso, demanded an explanation for the short-lived shutdown — and for the rapid reversal.

"I believe the FAA owes the community and the country an explanation as to why this happened so suddenly and abruptly, and why it was lifted so suddenly and abruptly," she said.

Escobar added that there was "nothing extraordinary about any drone incursion into the U.S. that I'm aware of."

Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican, told Newsmax on Wednesday that life on the border always involves such incursions.

"These daily drone intrusions by these criminal organizations, they happen literally every single day," Gonzales said, describing the situation for residents and law enforcement as routine. "This is Wednesday for us."

U.S. officials have warned for years that criminal organizations are expanding their use of drones for surveillance and smuggling along the southern border.

Sheinbaum also said Mexico's defense and navy secretaries are scheduled to meet Wednesday in Washington with officials from U.S. Northern Command in talks expected to include representatives from several other countries.

quote:

Originally posted by 9mmepiphany:

...For those unfamiliar with Army posts, Ft Bliss is where air defense training is conducted...

The Air Defense School (and neat museum) moved to Ft Sill several years ago. However, I doubt OK has ranges anywhere near the size of Ft Bliss, so some of the training probably stayed at Bliss.

All this public disclosure is bad. Sure, if you have to close airspace, you do need a reason. And, to reopen, you need a reason. But, to specifically say "cartel-related drone" gives away so much.

1. The USA can and does have awareness of both drones and drone owners
2. The USA can neutralize drones, somehow
3. The drones are an effective threat to public safety

Now, every criminal knows. Thousands of drones from that far away country are on the way to the bordering banana republics. Who knows what US border city will next be compromised?

What if they just took care of the situation as they reportedly did, without telling us? IF you can detect, ID, and destroy the threats within hours, please do NOT tell me. The role of our government is provide for the common defense. Just do it. Apologies to Nike.

Pure Speculation on my part but....

Whether it was a laser test, drone, balloon or FUBAR, someone believed something was wrong and called the aviation version of "ceasefire".

Instead of taking a few minutes to figure out who, what, when or why, government officials started to answer questions with something more than "I don't know".

My take? It's like calling ceasefire at the range, there may or many not be a problem but it substantially reduces the likelihood of something very bad from happening.

The outcome in El Paso? A lot of upset people but zero crashes, incidents, close calls or deaths. It's like I tell everyone when I teach anything about firearms, it's always OK to call a ceasefire and figure it out when everyone is safe.

Government officials will never learn that "I don't know but I will find out" is a good answer.

quote:

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum is rejecting U.S. claims that drones from her country entered American airspace near El Paso, Texas.

"There is no information about the use of drones on the border," she said, according to Newsweek.

I'm sure the drug cartels tell you everything about what they're up to.