Report: CBP Laser Use, Not Cartel Drones, Grounded El Paso Flights

EL PASO, Texas — A sudden and disorganized closure of airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Feb. 11, 2026, resulted in significant confusion among local officials and a stark divergence between administration statements and defense reporting regarding the cause. While Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the shutdown to a "neutralized" cartel drone threat, multiple defense sources indicate the grounding was triggered by the uncoordinated use of a high-energy military laser system by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a sudden flight restriction over the region, halting traffic at El Paso International Airport and surrounding areas for approximately seven hours. The restriction was originally filed to last for 10 days but was lifted late on Feb. 11, 2026.

Conflicting Accounts of the Incident

In the immediate aftermath of the closure, Secretary Duffy posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) claiming the action was taken to address a threat from the southern border.

"The FAA and DOW acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion," Duffy wrote. "The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region."

Duffy’s reference to "DOW" refers to the Department of Defense. While administration officials have frequently used the term "Department of War" or "DOW" in recent rhetoric, there has been no legal change to the Department of Defense's name under U.S. law.

However, reporting from Reuters and DefenseScoop contradicts the narrative of a simple intercept. According to these outlets, the airspace closure was necessitated not by an external attack, but by a safety standoff between the FAA and the Pentagon regarding the use of directed-energy weapons in civilian airspace.

Uncoordinated Laser Deployment

Sources cited by Reuters confirmed that the AeroVironment LOCUST, a 20-kilowatt laser counter-drone system, was deployed near the airport. DefenseScoop reported that while the system was loaned by the Department of Defense, it was operated by CBP personnel who had been trained by Joint Task Force–Southern Border.

CNN National Security Reporter Natasha Bertrand reported via X that the Pentagon had planned to use the high-energy laser but failed to properly coordinate with the FAA regarding risks to civilian aircraft.

"The Pentagon has been testing this tech for a while now in more remote areas and FAA and Pentagon officials had been scheduled to meet February 20 to review potential impacts and mitigation measures," Bertrand reported.

The premature deployment of the system on Feb. 11, 2026—nine days before the scheduled coordination meeting—prompted the FAA to impose a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) to ensure the safety of commercial air traffic.

Balloons vs. Drones

While Secretary Duffy cited "cartel drones," other sources suggest a less hostile target profile. Sources familiar with the timeline told Bertrand and CNN that the laser was used to shoot down four mylar balloons.

DefenseScoop corroborated that CBP personnel shot down an "object" using the laser system after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the transfer of the technology to border authorities.

The incident highlights a critical breakdown in communication between federal agencies. Local officials in El Paso and adjacent regions initially expressed ignorance regarding the cause of the sudden blackout, which grounded commercial flights and disrupted regional travel. The FAA eventually announced via X that "The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted," stating there was no threat to commercial aviation, though the agency did not explicitly address the laser usage in its public release.