FAA Lifts Temporary Closure of Airspace Over El Paso After Cartel Drone Incursion

Airspace reopened after brief shutdown that disrupted flights and medical evacuations

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Federal Aviation Administration has reopened the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas, just hours after it announced a 10-day closure that would have grounded all flights to and from the airport. The FAA said the closure was due to a cartel drone incursion, but the threat has been neutralized and there is no longer any danger to commercial aviation in the region.

Why it matters

The temporary airspace closure over El Paso caused significant disruptions, including stranding travelers and diverting medical evacuation flights. It highlights the growing threat posed by Mexican cartel drones along the border and the challenges authorities face in addressing this issue.

The details

According to a Trump administration official, the airspace over El Paso was closed after Mexican cartel drones breached the airspace, but the Defense Department took action to disable the drones. The FAA and Department of Homeland Security have been warning about the increasing use of drones by cartels to traffic drugs and surveil border agents. In 2024, DHS testified that more than 27,000 drones were detected within 500 meters of the southern border in the last six months of the year, with most flying late at night.

  • The airspace closure was announced on Tuesday and was set to last 10 days, from late Tuesday through late on February 20.
  • The FAA lifted the temporary closure on Wednesday morning, just hours after it was first announced.

The players

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company and is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Walker Reed Quinn

A 45-year-old San Francisco resident who has a history of vandalism and was out on bail for prior cases related to Waymo vehicles.

Rep. Tony Gonzales

A Republican U.S. Representative whose district stretches along more than 800 miles of the Texas border, including parts of El Paso.

Sen. Ben Ray Lujan

A Democratic U.S. Senator from New Mexico who is demanding answers from the FAA and Trump administration about the airspace closure.

Rep. Veronica Escobar

A Democratic U.S. Representative whose district includes El Paso, and who says the information from the federal government "does not add up."

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What they’re saying

“For any of us who show live and work along the border, daily drone incursions by criminal organizations is everyday life for us. It's a Wednesday for us.”

— Rep. Tony Gonzales, U.S. Representative (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Keeping our communities informed and safe is critical.”

— Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, U.S. Senator (Instagram)

“The information coming from the federal government does not add up.”

— Rep. Veronica Escobar, U.S. Representative (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

Mexican defense and navy secretaries will meet with Northern Command officials in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the drone incursion and border security issues.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the growing threat posed by Mexican cartel drones along the U.S.-Mexico border and the challenges authorities face in addressing this issue, which has become a daily reality for communities in the region.