Airspace closure followed spat over drone-related tests and party balloon shoot-down, sources say

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: February 11, 2026 / 12:21 PM EST / CBS News


The unexpected but brief airspace closure in the Texas border city of El Paso stemmed from disagreements between the Federal Aviation Administration and Pentagon officials over drone-related tests, multiple sources close to the matter told CBS News.

The Pentagon had undertaken extensive planning on the use of military technology near Fort Bliss, a military base that abuts the El Paso International Airport, to practice taking down drones. Two sources identified the technology as a high-energy laser.

Meetings were scheduled over safety impacts, but Pentagon officials wanted to test the technology sooner, stating that U.S. Code 130i requirements governing the protection of certain facilities from unmanned aircraft had been met.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on Tuesday night decided to close the airspace — without alerting White House, Pentagon or Homeland Security officials, sources said. Bedford told officials the airspace restrictions would be in place to ensure safety until issues with the War Department could be resolved. The FAA declined to comment.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/airspace-closure-followed-spat-over-drone-related-tests-and-party-balloon-shoot-down-sources-say/

[Sancho]

1. Jewish space lasers???

[Ocelot II]

2. Federal agencies fighting with each other like scorpions in a jar.

In this case I think the FAA was right to close the airspace. But these agencies are now so full of fucked-up incompetent dingbats that they don't even communicate with each other before they do stupid shit.

[tonekat]

3. You just can't believe anything from this Administration

Unqualified loyalists lacking expertise and lying.

[Martin68]

4. That's to the way to handle these thugs. If they won't provide evidence of the safety of their projects, close down the

airport before another tragic accident take place. the military needs to comply with civilian airspace safety.