El Paso Airspace Closure Stemmed From Pentagon Drone Laser Test
The unexpected ten-day closure of airspace over El Paso, Texas, this week was triggered by the Pentagon’s plans to test a high-energy laser designed to disable drones used by Mexican drug cartels, multiple sources have confirmed. The abrupt shutdown caused widespread disruption and confusion, prompting criticism of the handling of the situation.
The issue arose from a disagreement between the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the timing and safety protocols for the laser test. According to reports, the Pentagon sought to expedite the testing process near a military base adjacent to the El Paso airport, while the FAA, responsible for airspace safety, insisted on thorough safety assessments before allowing the operation to proceed. This disagreement ultimately led the FAA to halt flights in the area.
The initial explanation provided by the Department of Defense centered on the need to counter drones being utilized by Mexican cartels. A Trump administration official, speaking after the airspace reopened on Wednesday morning, stated, “Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones.” However, further reporting revealed a more nuanced picture.
CBS News, a news partner of the BBC, reported that the closure followed a test earlier in the week where the laser system was used to target what was initially believed to be a foreign drone. It was later discovered that the target was, in fact, a party balloon. The Pentagon had been planning to test the new military technology – the high-energy laser – as a means of practicing drone interception.
The situation escalated when meetings scheduled between the Pentagon and the FAA to discuss the technology’s safety were bypassed by the defense department, which moved forward with the test without full FAA approval. This prompted the FAA to temporarily close the airspace as a precautionary measure.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the FAA had collaborated with the Pentagon to “address a cartel drone incursion” and that restrictions had been lifted. However, the BBC noted that it had not independently verified the reported dispute between the military and the FAA.
The sudden closure sparked significant backlash, particularly from El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, who described the chaos as “completely unnecessary.” The disruption affected numerous flights and caused considerable inconvenience for travelers.
The incident highlights the growing concern over the increasing use of drones by Mexican cartels for surveillance and potentially smuggling operations along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Pentagon’s efforts to develop counter-drone technology reflect a broader push to address this emerging threat. The use of lasers to disable drones represents a relatively new approach, and the El Paso incident underscores the challenges of implementing such technology safely and effectively.
While the airspace has been reopened, the incident raises questions about communication and coordination between different government agencies, as well as the potential risks associated with testing advanced military technology in civilian airspace. The FAA and the Department of Defense have not yet released a comprehensive joint statement detailing the events leading up to the closure and the steps being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
