Temporary closure of El Paso International Airport due to security incident

On Tuesday, February 10, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suspended all flights at El Paso International Airport and closed the surrounding airspace for special security reasons. The restriction, covering a 10-mile radius, was initially scheduled to remain in effect until February 21 and included the nearby community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the measure was a response to an intrusion by a drug cartel drone, which was subsequently neutralized. However, conflicting reports from U.S. media suggest the incident involved Department of Homeland Security agents using a Pentagon-issued laser weapon without prior coordination. According to these reports, the unauthorized use of the weapon against a suspected drone prompted the FAA to implement the emergency flight ban. Although the FAA initially designated a ten-day closure, the airspace was reportedly reopened approximately eight hours later after authorities deemed the risk had passed. The closure affected a facility that handled 3.49 million passengers in the first eleven months of 2025. The FAA's use of a national defense airspace designation implies the involvement of the Department of Defense, though official details remain limited.