El Paso Airspace Briefly Closed Amid Drone Incursion

Federal agencies' messaging showed 'breakdown' in communication, says former Army intelligence expert.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a 10-day Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to close the airspace over El Paso, Texas on Wednesday morning, citing 'special security reasons.' However, the closure was lifted just a couple of hours later after the threat was deemed addressed. A former U.S. Army officer and intelligence expert who has experience with border operations said the situation highlighted a 'breakdown' in communication between federal agencies.

Why it matters

The abrupt airspace closure and conflicting messaging from the government raised concerns about the coordination and decision-making processes within federal agencies responsible for border security. The incident also underscores the growing challenges posed by drone activity along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The details

According to the former Army officer Stefano Ritondale, the 10-day NOTAM closure of the El Paso airspace made little sense given the size and population of the city. He speculated that the communications became muddled from the Joint Task Force Southern Border up to NORTHCOM, the Department of War, and then the FAA. Ritondale said the situation was likely triggered by more aggressive drone activity in the area, prompting a 'drastic response' from authorities that was not properly coordinated.

  • The FAA announced the 10-day NOTAM closure on Wednesday morning.
  • The airspace closure was lifted just a couple of hours later.

The players

Stefano Ritondale

A former U.S. Army officer who has experience with border operations and is the co-founder and chief Intelligence officer at Artorias, an AI-driven intelligence analysis company.

Sean Duffy

The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for the safety of civil aviation.

Department of War

The U.S. government agency responsible for national defense.

Department of Homeland Security

The U.S. government agency responsible for homeland security.

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What they’re saying

“The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal.”

— Federal Aviation Administration (X)

“The FAA and DOW [Department of War] 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. Department of Transportation Secretary (X)

“Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones. The FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel.”

— Trump administration official (Military.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for better coordination and communication between federal agencies responsible for border security, especially when it comes to responding to emerging threats like drone activity. It also raises questions about the decision-making processes and the potential impacts on commercial aviation and local communities along the U.S.-Mexico border.