The airlines were also aware of the apparent impasse between the FAA and Pentagon officials over the issue because the Pentagon has been using Fort Bliss for anti-cartel drone operations without sharing information with the FAA, the sources said The abrupt closure of El Paso’s airspace late Tuesday was precipitated when Customs and Border Protection officials deployed an anti-drone laser on loan from the Department of Defense without giving aviation officials enough time to assess the risks to commercial aircraft, according to multiple people briefed on the situation. The Pentagon and CBP kept the FAA out of the loop and then the FAA kept local officials out of the loop.
Author: Steve M.
Published at: 2026-02-14 23:30:02
Still want to read the full version? Full article
