The El Paso International Airport experienced a dramatic, if brief, disruption on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, as the FAA initially halted all flights for ten days, citing “special security reasons.” The order was lifted just hours later, leaving a trail of confusion and raising questions about the nature of the threat and the handling of the situation. While the FAA now asserts there is “no threat to commercial aviation,” the incident has sparked debate and scrutiny, particularly given the backdrop of heightened tensions regarding US-Mexico border security and potential military action against Mexican cartels.
What Happened in El Paso?
The initial announcement, made late Tuesday night, took local and state authorities by surprise. The FAA’s flight restriction, effective from 11:30 PM MST on February 10th and slated to last until February 20th, encompassed a 10-nautical-mile radius around the airport, impacting all aircraft operations. However, by Wednesday morning, the FAA reversed course, announcing the lifting of the temporary closure via a post on X (formerly Twitter). The swift reversal only deepened the mystery surrounding the initial decision.
Early reports pointed to drones as a central element of the disruption, but the specifics remained unclear. A tweet from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated that the FAA and Department of War (DOW) had “acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion.” This suggested a direct threat from Mexican cartels operating unmanned aerial vehicles within U.S. Airspace. However, this explanation was immediately challenged by Representative Veronica Escobar, who represents the El Paso area in Congress.
Escobar stated that the information she received from Congress differed from the administration’s narrative. “There’s no threat. There was not a threat, which is why the F.A.A. Lifted this restriction so quickly,” she told reporters, adding that “the information coming from the administration does not add up.” This discrepancy fueled speculation about the true cause of the flight restrictions.
Further complicating the picture, reports emerged suggesting the incident may not have been related to an immediate threat, but rather to US military activity. CNN reported, citing an administration official, that the closure was linked to “US military activity related to drug cartels,” including “unmanned aircraft operations and laser countermeasure testing.” Another source told the New York Times that the situation stemmed from a “test of new counter-drone technology by the military at Fort Bliss,” a nearby Army base that hosts a major drone facility.
The Texas Tribune offered yet another perspective, citing an industry source who claimed the Department of Defense had been operating drones in connection with anti-cartel operations near the airport without informing the FAA. This alleged lack of communication reportedly triggered the shutdown. The incident, regardless of its precise cause, highlights potential systemic failures in coordination between military and civilian aviation authorities.
The length of the initially proposed closure – ten days – was particularly unusual. As noted by NPR, such a prolonged interruption to a major city’s air service hasn’t occurred .
The Backdrop: Trump’s Threats Against Mexican Cartels
The El Paso airspace incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating rhetoric and speculation regarding potential US military intervention in Mexico to combat drug cartels. Former President Trump has repeatedly threatened such action, most recently following the Venezuela raid in January . Direct military action on Mexican soil remains a contentious issue, strongly opposed by the Mexican government.
Last summer, Trump signed an order directing the US military to take action against several drug cartels. While the US military regularly conducts surveillance flights along the US-Mexico border, the possibility of more aggressive operations has raised concerns. Reports indicate the CIA has also increased secret drone flights over Mexican territory.
Speculation about imminent action was previously fueled by an FAA warning in mid- advising aircraft flying over the eastern Pacific to “exercise caution” due to US military facilities. This prompted concerns about potential military maneuvers in the region.
The El Paso incident, whether a direct precursor to military action or a result of miscommunication and testing, underscores the growing tensions surrounding border security and the US response to the activities of Mexican drug cartels. The incident also draws parallels to the January 29th crash in Washington, D.C., involving an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet, which a National Transportation Safety Board investigation attributed to “deep, underlying systemic failures” in regulation and communication. The FAA’s handling of the El Paso situation will undoubtedly be subject to intense scrutiny in the coming days and weeks.
