The US Department of Defense took action to disable drones that it said were part of an incursion over El Paso, Texas, leading to a closure of the area's airspace for 10 days, originally announced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later confirmed the threat was neutralized, and flights could resume safely. The abrupt shutdown, which caught local officials by surprise, caused significant disruption including the diversion of medical evacuation flights. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson expressed frustration regarding the lack of prior notification from the FAA about the closure, emphasizing the panic it incited within the local community. Authorities are still waiting for a detailed explanation from the FAA concerning the reason behind the initial drone threat that prompted such drastic measures.
US Airspace Over El Paso Reopened After Drone Incident
US Airspace Over El Paso Reopened After Drone Incident
The Department of Defense took action to neutralize drone threats over El Paso, Texas, which led to a temporary airspace closure affecting flights. After confirming no ongoing threat, air travel restrictions were lifted.
The airspace over El Paso, Texas, has been reopened after a drone incursion prompted a temporary shutdown of flights. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the threat had been neutralized and there was no danger to commercial air traffic in the area. Local officials expressed concern over the abrupt nature of the closure, which caused confusion and disruption, especially for medical evacuation flights.
