Pentagon’s Use of Secretive Laser Weapon Against Cartel Drones Triggered Sudden FAA Flight Shutdown in El Paso
A secretive U.S. military operation utilizing high-energy laser technology to counter drug-cartel drones sparked a sudden and temporary shutdown of all airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday morning. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency order grounding all flights at El Paso International Airport, initially citing “special security reasons,” before lifting the restriction hours later.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the disruption stemmed from a lack of coordination between the Pentagon and the FAA regarding the use of a directed-energy weapon designed to disable unmanned aerial systems. The military has been testing the technology at Fort Bliss, a U.S. Army base adjacent to the airport, to combat an increasing number of drone incursions by Mexican cartels. These drones are reportedly used to surveil U.S. law enforcement positions and facilitate narcotics smuggling across the border.
The FAA’s abrupt decision to close the airspace was driven by safety concerns that the high-powered lasers could inadvertently blind commercial pilots or cause catastrophic loss of aircraft control during takeoffs and landings. The initial order, which stunned local officials and travelers, announced a 10-day airspace closure—a measure of severity rarely seen outside of active conflict zones or the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
“The FAA and the Pentagon have determined there is no threat to commercial travel,” the FAA stated in a social media post shortly after rescinding the order. “All flights will resume as normal.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later confirmed the nature of the incident, stating on social media that the Department of Defense and the FAA had “acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion.” He added that the “threat has been neutralized,” though he did not provide specific details on how many drones were disabled or the precise engagement rules used by the military.
The incident caused significant confusion on the ground. Medical evacuation flights were forced to divert to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and city officials expressed frustration over the lack of advance warning. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson criticized the breakdown in communication, noting that restricting airspace over a major metropolitan area without coordinating with hospitals and community leadership was unacceptable.
While the immediate restrictions have been lifted, the event highlights growing tensions over how to secure the southern border against sophisticated surveillance technologies without disrupting civilian infrastructure. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that her administration had no information regarding drone activity in the area, further complicating the diplomatic dimension of the border security operations.
* moomoo.com
* ctpost.com
* coastreporter.net
* moomoo.com
* manisteenews.com
* washingtonpost.com
* moomoo.com
* wfaa.com
* kvia.com
* cbc.ca
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* moomoo.com
* 1017chuckfm.com
