Trump Administration Briefly Closes El Paso Airspace, Blames Mexican Cartel Drones

FAA reopened airspace after a few hours, angering local officials who said they received no advance warning.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Trump administration says a Mexican cartel drone incursion prompted an hourslong closure of airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas. The Federal Aviation Administration originally announced a 10-day closure of the airspace, confusing travelers, before lifting the order a few hours later. No Mexican airspace was closed.

Why it matters

The abrupt closure of the El Paso airspace, a major transportation hub on the U.S.-Mexico border, caused disruptions and raised concerns about coordination between federal and local authorities on security issues.

The details

Federal officials abruptly closed the airspace over El Paso, Texas, for several hours early Wednesday due to what the Trump administration said was Mexican cartel drone activity, temporarily grounding flights and angering local officials who said they were given no advanced warning.

  • The airspace was closed early Wednesday morning.
  • The FAA originally announced a 10-day closure before lifting the order a few hours later.

The players

Trump administration

The federal government under the Trump presidency.

Federal Aviation Administration

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

El Paso International Airport

A major airport serving the city of El Paso, Texas, located on the U.S.-Mexico border.

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The takeaway

The abrupt closure of the El Paso airspace highlights the ongoing tensions and security concerns along the U.S.-Mexico border, and the need for better coordination between federal and local authorities when responding to potential threats.