On Wednesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported that a suspected drone flight allegedly operated by a drug cartel prompted the temporary suspension of flights at El Paso Airport (Texas), on the border with Mexico, for security reasons. Duffy affirmed that the "threat" has been "neutralized." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Homeland Security "acted swiftly to address a drone incursion by a cartel," Duffy wrote on social media X shortly after the FAA announced the resumption of air operations from the Texas location. The incident coincides with heightened tension between the two countries' governments following repeated threats from President Donald Trump of possible ground attacks against Mexican drug cartels, designated as terrorist organizations by Washington. Democratic Congresswoman for El Paso, Veronica Escobar, insisted today that there is "no threat" to the area, which is "why the FAA lifted this restriction so quickly," the representative said at a press conference, as cited by the Times. "The threat has been neutralized and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region. Restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming," the Secretary of Transportation stated, citing the aviation authority's post lifting the restriction. Last night, the FAA issued an unusual notice suspending all flights in El Paso "for special security reasons," which took effect at 11:30 p.m. local time this Tuesday and was scheduled to remain in effect until 11:30 p.m. local time on February 20. The restriction covered a 16-kilometer area around El Paso and the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, in the state of New Mexico. The aviation agency did not specify the reasons for the closure at the time, although a person with knowledge of the matter explained, according to The New York Times, that it was related to a test of new anti-drone technology by the Army at the nearby Fort Bliss military base. "The information coming from the administration doesn't add up (...) There have been drone incursions from Mexico since drones have existed. So this is nothing new," said Escobar.
