The Federal Aviation Administration lifted sweeping flight restrictions around El Paso International Airport early Wednesday, reopening the skies after an abrupt shutdown that stunned travelers and rattled airlines.
The agency had imposed the ban late Tuesday, effectively freezing operations at the West Texas airport. Now, officials say the threat that prompted the unprecedented move has been addressed.
Drone Incursion Sparks Rare Shutdown
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a social media post that the closure — initially expected to stretch through Feb. 21 — was triggered by a drone incursion into U.S. airspace near the airport.
“The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region,” Duffy wrote. “The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming.”
In its first notice announcing the shutdown, the FAA cited “special security reasons” but offered no further detail. As of Wednesday afternoon, the precise nature of the incident remained murky.
While Duffy’s statement suggested possible criminal foreign drone activity, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said during a Feb. 11 news conference that there was no information indicating drones operating along the border.
Adding to the uncertainty, CBS News, citing unnamed sources, reported that the closure was connected to Pentagon drone testing — not an active military operation.
