Update: It’s hard to keep up with all the BS news.
CBS News:
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday morning that it has lifted the closure of El Paso’s airspace just hours after it said it was halting all flights in and out of the airport for 10 days for what it called “special security reasons.” U.S. officials later said the closure was tied to a “cartel drone incursion.”
Administration officials told CBS News that the closure was triggered by Mexican cartel drones breaching U.S. airspace. The officials said the Department of Defense took action to disable the drones, and that the FAA and defense officials have determined there is no current threat to commercial travel.
“There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal,” the FAA said as the closure was lifted.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on social media that the FAA and Department of Defense “acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion” and that the “threat has been normalized.” Duffy said there “is no danger to commercial travel in the region” and that normal flights are resuming.
…
Two airline sources said the airlines were given the impression that the closure was made out of an abundance of caution because the FAA could not predict where drones might be flying.
The tests stemmed from disagreements between the FAA and Pentagon officials, according to CBS News. Fort Bliss abuts the airport.
On Tuesday night, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford decided to close the airspace. He did not alert White House, Pentagon, or Homeland Security officials, sources said. He stated that U.S. Code 130i requirements governing the protection of certain facilities from unmanned aircraft had been met.
Original Story
The FAA, without providing details, said that an order will leave one of the largest cities in Texas without air service of any kind until February 20th.
It appears to be a surprise for the state and local officials. Representative Veronica Escobar, who represents El Paso, said the order is “unprecedented.” She wants it lifted because she has found no imminent concerns.
“From what my office and I have been able to gather overnight and early this morning, there is no immediate threat to the community or surrounding areas,” she said in a statement. “We have urged the F.A.A. to lift the Temporary Flight Restrictions placed on the El Paso area. I will continue to make information public as I learn it.”
Closure is concerning locally, but it’s not a major hub for connecting flights.
Chris Canales, an El Paso city representative, said that the lack of information is causing fear and misinformation.
🚨BREAKING: FAA just ordered a full halt on ALL flights to and from El Paso, Texas, for the next 10 days.
Reason? “Unspecified special security reasons.”
No details, no explanation, just grounded.pic.twitter.com/KaQfZaTxzh
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) February 11, 2026
The military wasn’t warned?
🚨🇺🇸 El Paso airport shut down for 10 days. Nobody was warned. Not even the military.
FAA says it’s GPS jamming exercises covering 600 miles of Texas.
City council scrambling. Army scrambling. Even military flights don’t know if they’re grounded.
Source: @thenewarea51,… pic.twitter.com/9X4OJhmSHT
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 11, 2026
The headline is a Cluster F_ _ _. Proof read much?
How so? They were only closed briefly and won’t be closed for 10 days. What am I missing that led you to write that?
Operation Cluster F_ _ _.