El Paso Airspace Briefly Shut Down, Sparking Chaos

Trump administration blamed cartel drone, but others dispute explanation

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Federal Aviation Administration abruptly shut down the airspace over El Paso, Texas, late on Tuesday, disrupting travelers and alarming local officials. The shutdown, which lasted less than eight hours, was blamed by the Trump administration on a cartel drone breaching U.S. airspace, but others have disputed that explanation.

Why it matters

The sudden and unexplained airspace closure over a major city raised concerns about transparency and communication between federal authorities and local officials. It also highlighted the ongoing tensions around border security and the use of new counter-drone technologies.

The details

The FAA order came without warning at 11:30 pm local time, halting all flights to and from El Paso International Airport for 10 days due to 'special security reasons.' The restriction encompassed a 10-mile area around El Paso and the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The FAA said the federal government 'may use deadly force' if an aircraft was determined to pose an 'imminent security threat.' The shutdown caught travelers, local officials, and airlines off guard, leading to chaos and disruptions, including medical evacuation flights being diverted.

  • The airspace shutdown was issued at 11:30 pm local time on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.
  • The restriction was lifted less than 8 hours later, around 7 am on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Sean Duffy

The Secretary of Transportation, who said on social media that a cartel drone had breached U.S. airspace, prompting the temporary closure.

Joaquin Castro

A Democratic U.S. Representative who represents San Antonio and said he did not have a clear answer about the airspace shutdown.

Renard Johnson

The mayor of El Paso, who said the 'failure to communicate is unacceptable' and that the shutdown had caused 'chaos and confusion' in the community.

Veronica Escobar

A Democratic U.S. Representative from El Paso who pushed back on the drone explanation, saying there was 'not a threat' and the information from the administration 'does not add up.'

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What they’re saying

“This unnecessary decision has caused chaos and confusion in the El Paso community. I want to be very, very clear that this should've never happened. You cannot restrict air space over a major city without coordinating with the city, the airport, the hospitals, the community leadership.”

— Renard Johnson, Mayor of El Paso

“There was not a threat, which is why the F.A.A. lifted this restriction so quickly. The information coming from the administration does not add up.”

— Veronica Escobar, U.S. Representative

What’s next

The FAA and Trump administration officials have not provided a clear explanation for the airspace shutdown, and it remains to be seen if they will offer more details or if local and congressional leaders will continue to press for answers.

The takeaway

The abrupt and unexplained airspace closure over El Paso highlighted ongoing tensions around border security and the use of new counter-drone technologies, as well as the need for better communication and coordination between federal authorities and local officials when making decisions that impact major cities.