The temporary closure of El Paso airport by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to concerns over a military laser-based anti-drone system was criticized by the leading Democrat on the Senate’s commerce committee. The FAA initially shut down the Texas airport for 10 days following the Pentagon’s decision to deploy the anti-drone system without a complete safety analysis. However, the shutdown was lifted just eight hours later.
Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington highlighted the lack of coordination between the Department of Defense and the FAA during a hearing, emphasizing the need to address this issue. It was revealed by anonymous sources that the Pentagon had permitted U.S. Customs and Border Protection to utilize the anti-drone laser in the area.
The abrupt closure of the 71st busiest airport in the U.S., situated near the Mexican border, caused inconvenience to air travelers and disrupted medical evacuation flights. The FAA cited concerns about the potential risks posed to air traffic by an Army laser-based counter-drone system as the reason for closing the airspace.
Senator Ted Cruz, the Republican chair of the commerce committee, called for a classified briefing to gain a better understanding of the situation. The closure, attributed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to a drone incursion by a Mexican drug cartel, raised questions as such incidents typically result in brief traffic pauses rather than prolonged closures.
Republican Representative Tony Gonzales, whose district spans along Texas’s border with Mexico, noted that drone sightings by criminal organizations are common in the region. Steven Willoughby from the Department of Homeland Security testified about the frequent use of drones by cartels for illegal activities along the border.
The confusion and communication challenges between the FAA and the Pentagon were reminiscent of a previous incident involving a midair collision near Washington, D.C. The lack of coordination between the agencies was criticized by Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, who described it as a recurring issue within the administration. The closure of the El Paso airport led to canceled flights and rerouted medical evacuation missions.