Pentagon-FAA dispute over lasers to thwart cartel drones led to El Paso airspace closure, AP sources say

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | February 11, 2026 | Seung Min Kim, AP

[CedarDave]

WASHINGTON — The sudden and surprising airspace closure over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday stemmed from the Pentagon's plans to test a laser for use in shooting down drones used by Mexican drug cartels, according to three people familiar with the situation who were granted anonymity to share sensitive details.

That caused friction with the Federal Aviation Administration, which wanted to ensure commercial air safety and the two agencies sought to coordinate, according to two of the people.

Despite a meeting scheduled later this month to discuss the issue, the Pentagon wanted to go ahead and test the laser, prompting the FAA to shutter the airspace. It was not clear whether the laser was ultimately deployed.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said earlier that the response by the Defense Department and the FAA to neutralize an incursion by Mexican cartel drones had led to the airspace closure. Drone incursions are not uncommon along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The FAA had originally announced a 10-day closure of the El Paso airspace, confusing travelers at the airport in the border city with a population of nearly 700,000 people. The order was lifted a few hours later and normal flights resumed after 14 were canceled. No part of Mexican airspace was closed.

Rep. Tony Gonzales, whose district covers an area that stretches for about 800 miles along Texas' border with Mexico, said cartel drone sightings are common.

Steven Willoughby, the deputy director of the counter-drone program at the Department of Homeland Security, told Congress in July that cartels are using drones nearly every day to transport drugs across the border and surveil Border Patrol agents. More than 27,000 drones were detected within 1,600 feet of the southern border in the last six months of 2024, he testified, mostly at night.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; Mexico; US: New Mexico; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: aviation; cartels; crime; drones; drugs; elpaso; faa; texas

[CedarDave]

Much more info and discussion at the link. For ABQ Journal articles requiring a subscription, you may be allowed a number of free article views.

[MarlonRando]

This headline reads like a headline from the future. We indeed live in the future. Lasers and drones. Too bad it’s a really crappy future, with cartels and crap

[CedarDave]

The Journal reports that a similar 10-day temporary flight restriction for special security reasons remained in place Wednesday morning around Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Santa Teresa’s airport is a small general aviation airport, which is about 15 miles northwest of the El Paso airport. FAA officials did not immediately explain why that restriction remained in place.

[shelterguy]

So they wanted to test a frikken “laser beam”

[DesertRhino]

So it’s another deconfliction issue between DOD and FAA. Sounds like FAA isn’t accepting any DOD hard headedness after the DC Blackhawk crash.

[MarlonRando]

I was hoping we’d have Mars colonies and flying cars, instead, we’ve got Trump taking Greenland and I guess we can hope that we can get a check for the minerals? Like the Covid checks?

[Steely Tom]

Yeah, it sounds like something in a science fiction novel from my youth.

[shelterguy]

When did Trump take Greenland?

[The Antiyuppie]

Two can play this game. How about we send some drones with hellfire missles over there to the launch sites. We certainly know where they are.

[Deaf Smith]

From I gather from the story, drones crossing into US @ El Paso is common and the US military asked permission to test a laser on them?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

"...cartels are using drones nearly every day to transport drugs across the border and surveil Border Patrol agents. More than 27,000 drones were detected within 1,600 feet of the southern border in the last six months of 2024 mostly at night."

Holy crap. I had no idea the number was that high.

There was a video on X yesterday of a Rheinmetal anti-drone system that could be effective.

[Brian Griffin]

The El Paso airport is about four miles ENE of downtown El Paso and about two miles from Mexico.

I have no idea about the runway configuration.

[MarlonRando]

Venezuela first, then Greenland, then the mineral checks. It’ll be beautiful.

[Texas Eagle]

... according to three people familiar with the situation who were granted anonymity to share sensitive details.

Wait, what? Who "granted" the anonymity? The Albuquerque Urinal or The Ape Pee or Sum Ting Wong or The FAA or The Pentagon?

[CedarDave]

I have no idea about the runway configuration.

I've flown into El Paso and from the east and landing either to the east or northeast, you swing south over Juarez Mexico for the approach. The Franklin mountains are immediately to the west preventing a descent from that direction.

[JohnBovenmyer]

Solution for El Paso comes when Dems shut down ATC and TSA in their anti-ICE (which is already funded) shutdown, thus shutting down air travel across the country. At which time Dept of War can safely laser all the drones the cartels send. Until the Dems run out of smuggled drugs and give in.

[shelterguy]

Do you need government checks to survive?

[PIF]

“Defense Department” - AP apparently missed the memo

[CedarDave]

AP hasn’t conceded that the Defense Department and the Gulf of Mexico are no longer used by the Trump administration. They are waiting until Dims re-take control of the presidency and restore the previous names.

[Libloather]