Military’s Use of Anti-Drone Technology Is Said to Cause El Paso Airspace Closure

El Paso's airspace was reportedly closed late Tuesday because the Defense Department deployed new anti-drone technology without sufficient warning to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This action allegedly occurred despite FAA objections and concerns about the technology's risks to commercial air traffic. Four individuals briefed on the situation challenged the official explanation from the Trump administration, which stated that a sudden incursion of drones from Mexican drug cartels necessitated a military response. The military has been developing high-energy laser technology to intercept drones, which the administration claims cartels use for surveillance and smuggling. According to sources, the Defense Department, operating from Fort Bliss, mobilized this technology over FAA objections. In one instance, the military reportedly used this technology against what they believed was a cartel drone, but it turned out to be a party balloon. This operation was allegedly conducted without proper FAA coordination. It remains unclear if this specific incident led to the airspace closure, which began at 11:30 p.m. local time. However, sources indicated that the FAA had not completed a safety assessment of the new technology's potential impact on other aircraft at the time of the closure. FAA officials had previously warned the Pentagon that a lack of sufficient time and information for their review would force them to shut down the airspace.