A row erupted within the Trump administration after a high-energy laser shot down a party balloon, ultimately leading to US airspace being suddenly closed.

The Federal Aviation Administration abruptly closed the airspace around El Paso, only to reopen it hours later. The bizarre episode pointed to a lack of coordination between the FAA and the Pentagon.

Pentagon officials had undertaken planning to use military technology near Fort Bliss, in El Paso, to practice downing drones.

The Federal Aviation Administration reopened the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas on Wednesday morning, just hours after it announced a 10-day closure that would have grounded

The sudden and surprising airspace closure over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday -- first announced as extending for 10 days but lasting only a few hours -- stemmed from the Pentagon's plans to test a laser to shoot down drones used by Mexican drug cartels,

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily closed the airspace over El Paso, Texas, and southern New Mexico on Wednesday morning, prompting disruptions for travelers and questions from lawmakers. The FAA initially imposed a 10-day stoppage ...

The El Paso airspace closure highlights tensions between counter-UAS technology, aviation safety, and federal authority near airports.

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Was the airspace around New Orleans also shut down in early February, 2026, along with El Paso's closure due to alleged national security concerns? No, that's not true: The Temporary Flight