Airspace Over El Paso Briefly Shut Down Over Suspected Cartel Drone, Later Revealed as Party Balloon

Flights diverted, medical equipment delayed as DOD and FAA disagreed on anti-drone measures

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The U.S. Department of Defense ordered the Federal Aviation Administration to shut down all flights in and out of El Paso, Texas for 10 days on Wednesday, citing concerns over Mexican cartel drones breaching the U.S.-Mexico border. The order was rescinded after a few hours, with officials later revealing that at least one of the objects shot down was just a party balloon, not a drone.

Why it matters

The abrupt and broad shutdown of airspace over a major U.S. city is highly unusual, raising questions about miscommunication and potential overreaction by federal agencies. The incident disrupted medical flights and the delivery of critical supplies, underscoring the real-world impacts of such decisions.

The details

Medical emergency evacuation flights heading to El Paso were forced to divert to New Mexico, and all aviation operations, including emergency flights, were grounded. The initial notice to shut down airspace was last-minute and covered every type of aircraft. Officials later said the shutdown stemmed from a disagreement between the Pentagon and the FAA over closing airspace for tests of anti-drone technology, which reportedly included lasers. At least one of the objects shot down was revealed to be a party balloon, not a drone.

  • On Wednesday, the DOD ordered the FAA to shut down all flights in and out of El Paso for 10 days.
  • The airspace closure order was rescinded after a few hours.

The players

Renard Johnson

The mayor of El Paso who held a press conference to discuss the major disruptions caused by the airspace shutdown.

Sean Duffy

The U.S. Transportation Secretary who tweeted about the cartel drone incursion and the threat being neutralized.

Chris Canales

An El Paso City Representative who stated that no one in the local government or military base received advanced notice more than a few minutes about the airspace closure.

Steven Willoughby

The former head of counter-drone activity at the Department of Homeland Security who testified to Congress about the high number of drone flights near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President whose officials were involved in the discussions around the El Paso airspace closure.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Medical evacuation flights were forced to divert to Las Cruces. All aviation operations were grounded, including emergency flights. This was a major and unnecessary disruption, one that has not occurred since 9/11.”

— Renard Johnson, Mayor of El Paso (CBS News)

“The FAA and DOW [sic] acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion. The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region. The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming.”

— Sean Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary (Twitter)

“No one from the local government or the local military base received any advanced notice more than a few minutes, nor did the mayor. We have never seen something quite this extreme.”

— Chris Canales, El Paso City Representative (Wall Street Journal)

What’s next

The Pentagon and FAA are expected to review their communication protocols and coordination procedures to prevent similar abrupt and disruptive airspace closures in the future.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for greater transparency and communication between federal agencies when it comes to national security measures that can significantly impact local communities. It also raises concerns about the potential for overreaction and the use of unproven counter-drone technologies.