FAA lifts flight restrictions over El Paso and New Orleans hours after instituting closure: ‘Cartel drone incursion’
An airspace restriction over El Paso and New Orleans was briefly imposed by the FAA after what officials described as a cartel drone incursion into U.S. airspace.The order,issued without advance notice,was initially set to last up to 10 days thru February 21 but was lifted within hours,with normal flights resuming. NOTAMs indicated the restriction began February 11 at 06:30 UTC and prohibited most aircraft in the affected areas, excluding Mexican airspace, under “Temporary flight restrictions for Special Security Reasons.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the threat was neutralized and there is no danger to commercial travel. The move, CNN reported, had no precedent in U.S. history beyond 9/11 and left some travelers stranded, also affecting medevac and police helicopter flights. The FAA and Department of Transportation acted swiftly, and the Washington Examiner sought comment from the FAA.
FAA lifts flight restrictions over El Paso and New Orleans hours after instituting closure: ‘Cartel drone incursion’
The Federal Aviation Administration lifted its airspace closure over El Paso and New Orleans just hours after instituting it, following a Mexican “cartel drone incursion” into U.S. airspace.
The FAA originally instituted the shutdown for 10 days, through Feb. 21, but it was lifted after a few hours, according to the Associated Press.
“The FAA and DOW acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. “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.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to the FAA for comment.
The order was issued without advance notice and went into effect on Feb. 10 at 11:30 p.m. local time, multiple sources reported. However, NOTAM mentioned that the airspace restriction at El Paso began on “Feb. 11 at 0630 UTC.”
“No pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this NOTAM (except as described),” information posted in an “Operating Restrictions and Requirements” section said. “EXCLUDING MEXICAN AIRSPACE.”
The official reason posted on the NOTAM for the closure was “Temporary flight restrictions for Special Security Reasons.”
FAA RESTRICTS FLIGHTS OVER NEW ORLEANS AND EL PASO AIRPORT FOR ‘SECURITY REASONS’
The sudden notification took many by surprise and left some travelers temporarily stranded.
An order to shut down all flights, including medivac and police helicopters, has no precedent in U.S. history, going beyond the nationwide shutdown after 9/11, CNN reported.
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