{"id":2568714,"date":"2026-02-11T10:15:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T15:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/faa-lifts-flight-restrictions-over-el-paso-and-new-orleans-hours-after-instituting-closure-cartel-drone-incursion\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T10:17:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T15:17:02","slug":"faa-lifts-flight-restrictions-over-el-paso-and-new-orleans-hours-after-instituting-closure-cartel-drone-incursion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/faa-lifts-flight-restrictions-over-el-paso-and-new-orleans-hours-after-instituting-closure-cartel-drone-incursion\/","title":{"rendered":"FAA lifts flight restrictions over El Paso and New Orleans hours after instituting closure: &#8216;Cartel drone incursion&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffaa-lifts-flight-restrictions-over-el-paso-and-new-orleans-hours-after-instituting-closure-cartel-drone-incursion%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2568714&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>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 \u201cTemporary flight restrictions for Special Security Reasons.\u201d 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.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">FAA lifts flight restrictions over El Paso and New Orleans hours after instituting closure: &lsquo;Cartel drone incursion&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2464893\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-aviation-administration\/\">Federal Aviation Administration<\/a> lifted its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4453706\/faa-halts-flights-out-of-el-paso-airport-for-ten-days-for-security-reasons\/\">airspace closure<\/a> over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/el-paso\/\">El Paso<\/a> and New Orleans just hours after instituting it, following a Mexican &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >cartel drone incursion&#038;rdquo<\/a>; into U.S. airspace.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">The FAA<\/span> originally instituted the shutdown for 10 days, through Feb. 21, but it was lifted after a few hours, according to the&nbsp;<em>Associated Press<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4453667\/virginia-redistricting-map-gerrymandering-congress-midter\/\">Virginia redistricting and raw political power<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4453564\/trump-contracts-us-finland-icebreaker-davie-defense\/\">Trump awards final contracts under US-Finnish icebreaker partnership to Canada-linked defense company<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4453812\/nancy-guthrie-search-stalls-after-authorities-release-detained-suspect\/\">Nancy Guthrie search stalls after authorities release detained suspect<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;The FAA and DOW acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion,&rdquo; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. &ldquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to the FAA for comment.<\/p>\n<p>The order was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4453706\/faa-halts-flights-out-of-el-paso-airport-for-ten-days-for-security-reasons\/\">issued without advance notice<\/a> and went into effect on Feb. 10 at 11:30 p.m. local time, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-passes-enormous-china-competitiveness-bill-but-it-faces-huge-roadblocks-in-the-senate\/\" title=\"House Passes Enormous China Competitiveness Bill, But It Faces Huge Roadblocks In The Senate\">multiple sources reported<\/a>. However, NOTAM mentioned that the airspace restriction at El Paso began on &ldquo;Feb. 11 at 0630 UTC.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;No pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this NOTAM (except as described),&rdquo;&nbsp;information posted in an &ldquo;Operating Restrictions and Requirements&rdquo; section <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/tfr.faa.gov\/tfr3\/?page=detail_6_2233\">said<\/a>. &ldquo;EXCLUDING MEXICAN AIRSPACE.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/faa-restricts-flights-over-new-orleans-and-el-paso-airport-for-security-reasons\/\" title=\"... over New ... and ... Airport for \u2018security reasons\u2019\">official reason posted<\/a> on the&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/tfr.faa.gov\/tfr3\/?page=detail_6_2233\">NOTAM<\/a>&nbsp;for the closure was &ldquo;Temporary flight restrictions for Special Security Reasons.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4453706\/faa-halts-flights-out-of-el-paso-airport-for-ten-days-for-security-reasons\/\">FAA RESTRICTS FLIGHTS OVER NEW ORLEANS AND EL PASO AIRPORT FOR &lsquo;SECURITY REASONS&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The sudden notification took many by surprise and left some travelers temporarily stranded.<\/p>\n<p>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 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/petemuntean\/status\/2021555477985808550?s=20\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FAA lifts flight ban after cartel drone incursion<\/p>\n<p>If you want a longer paraphrase or a variant that names El Paso and New Orleans, I can provide it<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2568715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25030795580795.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[7112,73583,73581,14154,73582],"class_list":["post-2568714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-cartel","tag-drone-incursion-2","tag-el-paso-2","tag-faa","tag-new-orleans-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25030795580795.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2568714"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568714\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2568718,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568714\/revisions\/2568718"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2568715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2568714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2568714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2568714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}