El Paso Airspace Shutdown Over Suspected Cartel Drone

Incident highlights challenges of deploying anti-drone tech near cities

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Fears over a suspected drug cartel drone flying over Texas recently prompted an airspace shutdown in El Paso and New Mexico, underscoring the complexities involved in deploying anti-drone defenses in urban areas.

Why it matters

The El Paso incident reflects growing concerns about the potential security threats posed by drones, especially near major cities and critical infrastructure. It also highlights the technical and regulatory challenges of using counter-drone technologies in populated areas.

The details

Authorities ordered the temporary grounding of flights and restricted airspace over El Paso and parts of New Mexico after reports of a suspicious drone sighting. While the drone was never confirmed, the incident prompted an emergency response and shutdown to mitigate potential risks. The use of anti-drone systems near cities is complicated by factors like collateral damage, interference with other airspace users, and regulatory hurdles.

  • On February 16, 2026, the airspace over El Paso and parts of New Mexico was temporarily shut down.

The players

El Paso

A major city in Texas located near the U.S.-Mexico border.

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The takeaway

The El Paso airspace shutdown underscores the growing challenges of protecting urban areas from drone-related threats, as authorities must balance security needs with the complexities of deploying counter-drone technologies in populated environments.