The U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed it took action to disable drones involved in an incursion over El Paso, Texas. The airspace, which had been closed for ten days, has now been reopened following the neutralization of the perceived threat.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced via X, The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had announced a closure of the area's airspace just a night before, causing confusion among local residents and officials.
The abrupt shutdown led to cancellations and diversions of flights, including critical medical evacuation operations. City officials, including El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson, expressed frustration over the lack of prior notification regarding the closure.
We woke up, just like many of you, at midnight last night, to the text and the calls that we received that our airspace was shut down, Johnson stated during a news conference.
Although such long-term airspace closures are unusual, they were enacted due to the potential risks posed by the drones, which are believed to be linked to cartel activities, specifically for surveillance purposes along the border.
Drone operations are reportedly common in the area, with their utilization by cartels mainly focused on intelligence gathering and human smuggling activities.
