The FAA is shutting down all flights to/from the El Paso airport for 10 days

[Anonymous]

Yes, the pentagon authorized the use of an experimental laser, which then hit a Mylar birthday balloon. Then the whole place was shut down. Seriously. It’s been verified.

[Anonymous]

Oh and the airspace area in New Mexico is still shut down. Total incompetence, started as a miscommunication and spilled out into squabbling and public anger.

[Anonymous]

Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say
The Pentagon allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser earlier this week, leading the Federal Aviation Administration to suddenly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details.

The confusing arc of events began as the FAA announced it was shutting down all flight traffic over the city on the U.S.-Mexico border for 10 days, stranding some travelers, but the closure ended up only lasting a few hours. The Trump administration said it stemmed from the FAA and Pentagon working to halt an incursion by Mexican cartel drones, which are not uncommon along the southern border.


One of the people said the laser was deployed near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA, which decided then to close the airspace to ensure commercial air safety. Others familiar with the matter said the technology was used despite a meeting scheduled for later this month between the Pentagon and the FAA to discuss the issue.

https://www.kold.com/2026/02/11/faa-closes-airspace-around-el-paso-texas-10-days-grounding-all-flights/

This has nothing to do with cartels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say
The Pentagon allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser earlier this week, leading the Federal Aviation Administration to suddenly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details.

The confusing arc of events began as the FAA announced it was shutting down all flight traffic over the city on the U.S.-Mexico border for 10 days, stranding some travelers, but the closure ended up only lasting a few hours. The Trump administration said it stemmed from the FAA and Pentagon working to halt an incursion by Mexican cartel drones, which are not uncommon along the southern border.


One of the people said the laser was deployed near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA, which decided then to close the airspace to ensure commercial air safety. Others familiar with the matter said the technology was used despite a meeting scheduled for later this month between the Pentagon and the FAA to discuss the issue.

https://www.kold.com/2026/02/11/faa-closes-airspace-around-el-paso-texas-10-days-grounding-all-flights/

This has nothing to do with cartels.

You're right. It has to do with shooting down a child's party balloon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say
The Pentagon allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser earlier this week, leading the Federal Aviation Administration to suddenly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details.

The confusing arc of events began as the FAA announced it was shutting down all flight traffic over the city on the U.S.-Mexico border for 10 days, stranding some travelers, but the closure ended up only lasting a few hours. The Trump administration said it stemmed from the FAA and Pentagon working to halt an incursion by Mexican cartel drones, which are not uncommon along the southern border.


One of the people said the laser was deployed near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA, which decided then to close the airspace to ensure commercial air safety. Others familiar with the matter said the technology was used despite a meeting scheduled for later this month between the Pentagon and the FAA to discuss the issue.

https://www.kold.com/2026/02/11/faa-closes-airspace-around-el-paso-texas-10-days-grounding-all-flights/

This has nothing to do with cartels.

You're right. It has to do with shooting down a child's party balloon.

They were lucky they did not blind civilian pilots. They would have claimed Hamas or cartels did it and attacked Mexico.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say
The Pentagon allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser earlier this week, leading the Federal Aviation Administration to suddenly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details.

The confusing arc of events began as the FAA announced it was shutting down all flight traffic over the city on the U.S.-Mexico border for 10 days, stranding some travelers, but the closure ended up only lasting a few hours. The Trump administration said it stemmed from the FAA and Pentagon working to halt an incursion by Mexican cartel drones, which are not uncommon along the southern border.


One of the people said the laser was deployed near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA, which decided then to close the airspace to ensure commercial air safety. Others familiar with the matter said the technology was used despite a meeting scheduled for later this month between the Pentagon and the FAA to discuss the issue.

https://www.kold.com/2026/02/11/faa-closes-airspace-around-el-paso-texas-10-days-grounding-all-flights/

This has nothing to do with cartels.

You're right. It has to do with shooting down a child's party balloon.

It’s like this administration vaccinated against competency.

[Anonymous]

I would never have believed that a drug cartel had a balloon, and I know it was a party balloon.

I am just saying that the drug cartel lie is stupid. A cartel is not going to go up against an entire nation the size of the US. They would need the infrastructure of, say, an Epstein-style organization that could use threats of some kind in order to get what they want. They might try assassination, but why? That would be a lot of hard work to pull off and not worth the risk. They are getting rich just fine doing what they do now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say
The Pentagon allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser earlier this week, leading the Federal Aviation Administration to suddenly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details.

The confusing arc of events began as the FAA announced it was shutting down all flight traffic over the city on the U.S.-Mexico border for 10 days, stranding some travelers, but the closure ended up only lasting a few hours. The Trump administration said it stemmed from the FAA and Pentagon working to halt an incursion by Mexican cartel drones, which are not uncommon along the southern border.


One of the people said the laser was deployed near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA, which decided then to close the airspace to ensure commercial air safety. Others familiar with the matter said the technology was used despite a meeting scheduled for later this month between the Pentagon and the FAA to discuss the issue.

https://www.kold.com/2026/02/11/faa-closes-airspace-around-el-paso-texas-10-days-grounding-all-flights/

This has nothing to do with cartels.

You're right. It has to do with shooting down a child's party balloon.

It’s like this administration vaccinated against competency.

Apparently Sean Duffy is the only semi-adult in the room willing to actually do the right thing. Good to see at least he takes his job somewhat seriously b

[Anonymous]

At which point does Congress grow a spine and throw all these idiots to the curve, or better yet, in jail where they belong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say
The Pentagon allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser earlier this week, leading the Federal Aviation Administration to suddenly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details.

The confusing arc of events began as the FAA announced it was shutting down all flight traffic over the city on the U.S.-Mexico border for 10 days, stranding some travelers, but the closure ended up only lasting a few hours. The Trump administration said it stemmed from the FAA and Pentagon working to halt an incursion by Mexican cartel drones, which are not uncommon along the southern border.


One of the people said the laser was deployed near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA, which decided then to close the airspace to ensure commercial air safety. Others familiar with the matter said the technology was used despite a meeting scheduled for later this month between the Pentagon and the FAA to discuss the issue.

https://www.kold.com/2026/02/11/faa-closes-airspace-around-el-paso-texas-10-days-grounding-all-flights/

This has nothing to do with cartels.

You're right. It has to do with shooting down a child's party balloon.

It’s like this administration vaccinated against competency.

Apparently Sean Duffy is the only semi-adult in the room willing to actually do the right thing. Good to see at least he takes his job somewhat seriously b

I agree with this. I get the sense he actually cares about wanting the FAA to be good, as opposed to Pete, Kristi, etc. who just want to be at photo shoots. I'm not saying Sean's doing a good job or anything, because I don't actually know, but just by virtue of being quieter than the others I like him best.

[Anonymous]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pentagon-pete-caused-airport-chaos-by-shooting-down-party-balloon/ar-AA1Wa1R4

The recent airspace closure around El Paso, Texas, was caused by the U.S. Military shooting down a party balloon amid a behind-the-scenes spat with air safety officials, multiple reports say.

That contradicts the explanation provided on Tuesday by administration officials, which claimed the closure was necessary because drones operated by Mexican drug cartels were being downed as they crossed the southern border.

Flights at the El Paso International Airport were grounded and inbound planes, including medical evacuation flights, were forced to divert 45 minutes away to Las Cruces, New Mexico, said the border city’s enraged mayor.

[Anonymous]

It wasn't the military who shot the balloon down, it was border patrol, using a military issued weapon.

[Anonymous]

The kids are fighting

[Anonymous]

It happened again - around Fort Hancock, TX.
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/faa-closes-airspace-fort-hancock-texas-after-reported-use-anti-drone-laser-2026-02-27/