Airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas was reopened on Wednesday morning, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration, hours after the agency had announced a 10 day closure that would have halted flights to and from the airport.
The abrupt reversal came after the FAA’s earlier notice signalled that all commercial operations at the airport would be effectively grounded during the closure period.
A report cited by NDTV said the planned shutdown was tied to an “incursion” involving drones attributed to Mexican cartels. The report described the drones as the trigger for the action around the airport’s airspace.
The FAA’s decision to lift the restriction means aircraft can once again operate in the area, restoring flight movements that would otherwise have been suspended under the earlier plan.
El Paso International Airport serves the west Texas region and sits close to the US Mexico border, a factor that often places heightened focus on airspace activity and security-related disruptions in the area.
The FAA’s initial announcement and the later reopening were both issued within a span of hours, marking a significant change for passengers and airlines preparing for the possibility of a prolonged stoppage.
NDTV reported that the earlier closure notice had indicated a 10 day timeline, a duration that would have required carriers to cancel or reroute services, and travellers to rebook plans.
The agency reopened the airspace on Wednesday morning, the report said, without detailing in that update how long the restrictions had been active before being lifted.
The development highlights the operational impact that drone-related incidents can have on airport functioning, especially when authorities respond by restricting or closing nearby airspace.
NDTV’s report focused on the link between the disruption and cartel-connected drones, while also noting the swift change from the announced closure to the reopening of airspace.