The FAA briefly closed airspace around El Paso International Airport (KELP) early Wednesday morning. [Credit: El Paso International Airport]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA abruptly imposed and then lifted a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over El Paso, Texas, causing significant disruption to commercial, cargo, and medical flights without advance notice to local officials.
Conflicting explanations emerged for the TFR; while some reports cited U.S. military counter-drone testing, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claimed it was due to a "cartel drone incursion," an explanation disputed by local and Mexican government officials.
Local authorities, including the mayor and congressional representatives, heavily criticized the FAA's lack of communication, calling the situation "unacceptable" and an "unprecedented" disruption since 9/11, leading to diverted medical flights and estimated multi-million dollar losses.
Last updated Wednesday, February 11 at 12:15 p.m. EST.
The FAA on Wednesday morning abruptly lifted a temporary flight restriction (TFR) for airspace in El Paso, Texas, which officials said came as a surprise to local governments, airport leadership, and air traffic controllers (ATCs), including those at the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
