El Paso International Airport in Texas experienced a sudden closure by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), originally planned to last for ten days, due to 'special security reasons' connected to potential threats from drug cartels and drone activities. The surprise decision caught local authorities off guard and was reported by The New York Times. The airport was completely shut down, preventing any departures or landings, causing significant disruption in air traffic.

However, the FAA announced the unexpected reopening of the airport just under twenty-four hours later, stating that there was no longer a threat to commercial air traffic. Before the decision to allow flights to resume, the FAA indicated that the federal government was prepared to use lethal force against any aircraft entering restricted airspace deemed a 'serious security threat.' This alert raised concerns about the seriousness of the situation that led to the initial closure.

Sources from airlines connected to the airport informed Reuters that the closure was likely linked to the Pentagon's deployment of anti-drone technology aimed at countering Mexican drug cartels. The rapid reversal of the closure is indicative of either a reassessment of the threat level or a reflection of the significant implications that such an extended airport closure would have had on both local and national air travel operations.