The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States announced the reopening of airspace around El Paso International Airport on Wednesday morning, just hours after initially announcing a 10-day closure that would have suspended all flights in and out of the airport. The FAA communicated via social media that the closure was lifted, stating there was no threat to commercial aviation and that all flights were set to resume.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated in a post on X that the FAA and the Department of Defense acted swiftly to address an incursion of cartel drones. He reassured the public that the threat had been neutralized and that there was no danger to commercial travel in the region. However, he did not disclose how many drones were involved in the incident or the specific measures taken to disable them.

The announced closure had raised concerns about potential disruptions, particularly as it was anticipated to have significant impact on air travel. The quick resolution to the situation mitigated those concerns, allowing normal flight operations to continue. This incident highlights ongoing issues related to cartel activities and their potential implications for safety and airspace regulations in the United States, particularly in border regions like El Paso.