What happened with the airspace above El Paso?
By Easton Martin | February 11, 2026
The Federal Aviation Administration reopened the airspace around El Paso International Airport on Wednesday morning following an unprecedented security shutdown that grounded all flights for several hours. While the agency originally issued a ten day notice to airmen, the restriction was rescinded shortly after the Trump administration confirmed that the closure was a direct response to Mexican cartel drones breaching United States airspace.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the FAA and the Department of War acted swiftly to address the incursion. According to administration officials, the military took action to disable the drones after they were detected flying aggressively near civilian flight paths and military helicopters. Security analysts noted that these drones are increasingly used by organized crime groups for surveillance and transporting illicit goods, but this specific event was deemed a significant enough threat to classify the region as national defense airspace.
The grounding affected commercial, cargo, and general aviation across El Paso and parts of southern New Mexico. The FAA warned during the shutdown that the government could use deadly force against any non compliant aircraft deemed a security threat. Once the drones were neutralized, federal authorities determined there was no remaining danger to the traveling public.
