Mexican cartel drone breaches US airspace... airport had to be closed
A Mexican cartel drone infiltration led to the closure of airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas for several hours before it was reopened by the FAA.
El Paso International Airport in Texas experienced a significant incident when the airspace was closed for several hours due to a drone breach associated with a Mexican drug cartel. The decision to shut down the airspace was made by officials from the FAA in light of suspected drones entering US airspace. This prompted an immediate response to ensure safety for civilian flights.
The closure raised concerns about security and the ongoing challenges posed by drug trafficking organizations extending their operations into United States territory. According to reports, an official from the Trump administration emphasized the increased vigilance over unauthorized aerial activity linked to these cartels. Following the closure, the FAA confirmed via social media that the threat had been neutralized, allowing commercial flights to resume normally.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy also provided updates on the situation, stating that swift actions taken in collaboration with the Department of Defense helped address the incursion effectively. With the reopening of the airspace confirmed, authorities reassured the public and aviation sectors that safety protocols were sufficiently robust to handle such incidents in the future, highlighting the importance of monitoring and securing national airspace against unauthorized entries.