On Tuesday night, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restricted airspace up to 18,000 feet above El Paso International Airport in Texas, indicating that these measures would span 10 days. However, in an unexpected turn, the FAA reopened the airspace in less than 10 hours, permitting aircraft activity at the busy hub once more.
Shortly after the cancellation of these restrictions, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy addressed the situation, stating that the FAA and the Department of War (DOW) took prompt action against a 'cartel drone incursion.' Notably, the Trump Administration refers to the Department of Defense as the Department of War, while its official title remains unchanged.
This explanation from Duffy has faced skepticism.
According to reporting from The New York Times and other sources, it appears that the military has been working on high-energy lasers designed to neutralize drone threats. Discussions regarding testing these new systems from the nearby Fort Bliss Army base had been ongoing between the FAA and U.S. military officials. Despite the FAA's unresolved safety concerns related to these tests, the military proceeded earlier this week. Interestingly, the target was revealed to be a party balloon, not a drone.