Something mysterious is afoot in El Paso, Texas. Earlier today, the FAA suddenly announced plans for an unprecedented 10-day shutdown of all airspace around El Paso International Airport, apparently including all commercial, freight, and military air traffic.
When pressed for a reason, all the FAA could say was that this was for “special security reasons”. Wild theories emerged, ranging from the government clearing the air for illegal deportation flights all the way to a cover for UFO activity.
Fortunately, we soon got more details, though they still leave us with questions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X, explaining that the shutdown was due to a “cartel drone incursion”:
The FAA and DOW acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) February 11, 2026
The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region.
The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming. https://t.co/xQA1cMy7l0
“The FAA and DOW acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion. The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region. The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming.”
It’s known that drones are a popular way of moving drugs across the border, but many are skeptical that this is the real reason. After all, why do you need ten days of blocked airspace and massive disruption for a drone incursion?
“The information coming from the federal government does not add up.”
Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat whose district includes El Paso, hinted that we’re not being told the full story. At a press conference, she told reporters:
“I believe the FAA owes the community and the country an explanation as to why this happened so suddenly and abruptly and was lifted so suddenly and abruptly. The information coming from the federal government does not add up.”
Escobar also indicated the official line that this is because of Mexican cartel drones, “is not what we in Congress have been told.” The Pentagon was approached for comment, but refused to confirm or deny anything.
The real story might be far more embarrassing to the government. Yes, it was drones that got the airspace shut down, but it was Department of Defense drones rather than cartel ones:
It seems telling that the reporters citing “admin sources” say it was “cartel drones” and the reporters with sources in FAA say it was our own dumbass military doing unsafe drone tests by a major civilian airport pic.twitter.com/CDldFF6G0N
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) February 11, 2026
Whatever’s going on, the 10-day shutdown has been called off. Even so, it seems there is more to this story than meets the eye!
