El Paso Airspace Closed After Drone Countermeasure Incident

Authorities used a laser to neutralize a drone threat, leading to flight cancellations and raising concerns about communication issues

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The airspace over El Paso, Texas was abruptly closed this week after U.S. Customs and Border Protection used a laser-based counter-drone system to neutralize what was believed to be a threat from Mexican drug cartel drones. The incident led to the cancellation of over a dozen flights and highlighted communication issues between government agencies, as well as broader concerns about the U.S.'s preparedness to deal with the growing threat of malicious drone activity.

Why it matters

The closure of the El Paso airspace underscores the challenges authorities face in addressing the growing threat of drones, particularly near sensitive areas like airports. It raises questions about whether government agencies are properly coordinating and communicating when deploying counter-drone technologies, which could have serious consequences for public safety and commercial aviation.

The details

According to sources, the laser-based counter-drone system was deployed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection without properly coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This led the FAA to ground all aircraft in the El Paso area out of concerns for the safety of commercial flights. The airspace restrictions were initially expected to last 10 days but were lifted a few hours later.

  • On Wednesday, the FAA shut down the airspace over El Paso, Texas.

The players

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

A federal law enforcement agency that was responsible for deploying the counter-drone laser system that triggered the airspace closure.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The government agency that oversees air traffic and was responsible for grounding flights in El Paso due to safety concerns about the counter-drone system.

Brett Velicovich

A drone warfare expert who founded the drone company Power.us and consults on mitigating drone threats.

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What they’re saying

“We need to simplify the authorities for who is really in charge and get these egos out of the way from these different agencies before an American gets hurt.”

— Brett Velicovich, Drone warfare expert

“This was a joint agency task force mission that was undertaken and we're continuing to work on the communication through that.”

— Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary

What’s next

The government agencies involved in the El Paso incident are working to address the communication issues that led to the airspace closure and flight cancellations.

The takeaway

The El Paso incident highlights the growing threat of drones and the need for better coordination and communication between government agencies when deploying counter-drone technologies. As major events like the World Cup and 250th anniversary celebrations approach, authorities must ensure they are prepared to quickly and safely respond to drone threats to protect public safety.