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By Jesus Mesa
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Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum denied U.S. allegations that Mexican drones entered American airspace near El Paso, Texas, after U.S. authorities briefly shut down and then reopened the city’s airspace.
“There is no information about the use of drones on the border,” Sheinbaum said, rejecting claims from U.S. officials who said the Defense Department had “neutralized” a drone-related threat.
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Why It Matters
The Federal Aviation Administration halted flights late Tuesday, initially announcing a 10-day restriction before lifting it hours later. The sudden closure sparked confusion among local officials, who said they received no prior explanation.
What To Know
The confusion began late Tuesday when the FAA issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) citing “special security reasons,” immediately halting flights to and from El Paso International Airport. Within hours, however, the agency reversed course and lifted the closure.
Sheinbaum said in her morning press briefing that her government was going to look into “the exact causes of why they closed” the flights.
In a statement to Newsweek, the White House attributed the closure to drone activity linked to Mexican drug cartels.
“Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace. The Department of Defense took action to disable the drones,” the statement said. “The FAA and DOD have determined there is no threat to commercial travel.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed that assessment, posting on X that the “threat has been neutralized” and that normal operations could resume.
Asked about the explanation given by U.S. officials, she said, “There’s no need for speculation, we’re going to have information, and as always, continue our permanent communication” with the U.S., she said.
What People Are Saying
The FAA said on its X account: “The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal.”
Representative Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat whose district includes El Paso, said in a statement: “I believe the FAA owes the community and the country an explanation as to why this happened so suddenly and abruptly, and why it was lifted so suddenly and abruptly.” Speaking at a morning news conference, she added that there was “nothing extraordinary about any drone incursion into the U.S. that I’m aware of.”
Representative Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, told The Associated Press: “For those of us who live and work along the border, daily drone incursions by criminal organizations are part of everyday life. It’s a Wednesday for us.”
What Happens Next
U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that criminal organizations increasingly use drones for surveillance and smuggling. Mexican defense and navy secretaries are scheduled to meet with Northern Command officials in Washington on Wednesday in talks attended by representatives from several other countries, according to Sheinbaum.
Updates: 2/11/26, 12:41 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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