The temporary closure of El Paso airport by the Federal Aviation Administration due to safety concerns related to a military laser-based anti-drone system was criticized as unacceptable by the leading Democrat on the Senate’s commerce committee on Thursday.
Following the Pentagon’s decision to proceed with deploying the anti-drone system without a full safety analysis, the FAA initially shut down the Texas airport for 10 days before quickly reversing the decision just eight hours later.
During a hearing, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington highlighted the need to address the lack of coordination between the Department of Defense and FAA.
According to two anonymous sources familiar with the situation, the Pentagon granted permission for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to utilize an anti-drone laser in the region.
The sudden shutdown of the nation’s 71st busiest airport, located near the Mexican border, resulted in stranded passengers and disrupted medical evacuation operations. Initially, the FAA cited “special security reasons” for the closure of the airport, which serves four million passengers annually. The proposed 10-day shutdown would have been an unprecedented measure for a single airport.
Government and airline officials, speaking under anonymity, revealed that the FAA closed the airspace over concerns that the Army’s laser-based anti-drone system could endanger air traffic. Despite plans for discussions on February 20, the Army proceeded without FAA approval, leading to the flight halt.
Sen. Ted Cruz, the Republican committee chair, called for a classified briefing to gain clarity on the situation.
Questions Raised Over Original Explanation
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the closure to a drone incursion by a Mexican drug cartel. However, the sighting of a drone near an airport typically results in a brief traffic pause, not a prolonged closure.
Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, representing a district along the Texas-Mexico border, stated that drone sightings by cartels are common occurrences in the region.
Steven Willoughby, deputy director of the Department of Homeland Security’s counter-drone program, testified to Congress about cartel drone activities, emphasizing their frequent use for drug transportation and surveillance along the border.
Over 27,000 drones were detected within 500 meters of the southern border in the latter half of 2024, mostly during nighttime.
Mexican officials, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, expressed skepticism regarding Duffy’s claim.
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The incident highlighted a breakdown in communication between the FAA and the Pentagon, reminiscent of the investigation into a previous midair collision near Washington, D.C., between a commercial jet and an Army helicopter,
