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Lawmakers are demanding answers after airspace over El Paso, Texas, was abruptly closed late Tuesday and reopened early Wednesday morning.“The conflicting accounts coming from different parts of the federal government only deepen public concern and raise serious questions about coordination and decision-making,” said Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island.Initially, the FAA abruptly shut down airspace around El Paso, Texas, and parts of southern New Mexico, citing only “special security reasons” without further explanation.Flights were grounded overnight before restrictions were lifted roughly eight hours later. Some medical evacuation flights had to be rerouted.By Wednesday morning, an administration official told Hearst Television, “Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace.” The military took action to disable those drones, and there is no threat to commercial travel.The Associated Press and other outlets are now reporting that the closure might be due to a dispute between the Pentagon and the FAA over an anti-drone test.The Associated Press says, according to sources granted anonymity, the shutdown stemmed from Pentagon plans to test a laser system designed to take down cartel drones. The FAA raised concerns about commercial safety, leading to a clash between the two agencies over how to proceed. Despite a meeting scheduled later this month, the Pentagon moved forward, prompting the FAA to shut down the airspace.Neither the Pentagon nor the FAA has publicly responded to the AP’s reporting.Local officials said they were given no notice, with El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson stating, “We deserve to know why our airport was shut down. It’s unacceptable. So I hope we get that answer.”U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, whose district includes El Paso, said the federal response raised serious concerns.“I believe the FAA owes the community and the country an explanation as to why this happened so suddenly and abruptly and was lifted so suddenly and abruptly,” Escobar said at a news conference. “The information coming from the administration does not add up.” Mexican military officials are meeting with U.S. leaders in Washington today, as Mexico’s president announced her government would investigate the exact causes but had no information on drones along the border this morning.
Lawmakers are demanding answers after airspace over El Paso, Texas, was abruptly closed late Tuesday and reopened early Wednesday morning.
“The conflicting accounts coming from different parts of the federal government only deepen public concern and raise serious questions about coordination and decision-making,” said Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island.
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Initially, the FAA abruptly shut down airspace around El Paso, Texas, and parts of southern New Mexico, citing only “special security reasons” without further explanation.
Flights were grounded overnight before restrictions were lifted roughly eight hours later. Some medical evacuation flights had to be rerouted.
By Wednesday morning, an administration official told Hearst Television, “Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace.” The military took action to disable those drones, and there is no threat to commercial travel.
The Associated Press and other outlets are now reporting that the closure might be due to a dispute between the Pentagon and the FAA over an anti-drone test.
The Associated Press says, according to sources granted anonymity, the shutdown stemmed from Pentagon plans to test a laser system designed to take down cartel drones. The FAA raised concerns about commercial safety, leading to a clash between the two agencies over how to proceed. Despite a meeting scheduled later this month, the Pentagon moved forward, prompting the FAA to shut down the airspace.
Neither the Pentagon nor the FAA has publicly responded to the AP’s reporting.
Local officials said they were given no notice, with El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson stating, “We deserve to know why our airport was shut down. It’s unacceptable. So I hope we get that answer.”
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, whose district includes El Paso, said the federal response raised serious concerns.
“I believe the FAA owes the community and the country an explanation as to why this happened so suddenly and abruptly and was lifted so suddenly and abruptly,” Escobar said at a news conference. “The information coming from the administration does not add up.”
Mexican military officials are meeting with U.S. leaders in Washington today, as Mexico’s president announced her government would investigate the exact causes but had no information on drones along the border this morning.
