Just hours after the FAA issued a temporary flight restriction halting all flights in and out of El Paso for ten days, they lifted that hold. According to the FAA’s website, the restriction was put in place for “special security reasons.”
Special, as in a 'party balloon'.
After a Trump administration official told Fox News that the initial lockdown came in response to "Mexican cartel drones" that breached American airspace, the FAA had announced this morning that all flights to and from El Paso were being grounded, including commercial, cargo and general aviation. The restriction was initially set to be effective from February 10 at 11:30 p.m. MST to February 20 at 11:30 p.m. MST.
"Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones. The FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel," the official said.
The FAA had cited "special security reasons" for the earlier closure, but did not explain any further. It turns out, there were no drones. A U.S. official confirmed to Fox News that the U.S. military earlier this week shot down what was later determined to be a 'party balloon' near El Paso, after initially assessing it as a possible foreign drone.
Elsewhere, Texas DPS is warning about a fake memo circulating online announcing temporary ten day road closures in the El Paso area. There are no DPS ordered road closure,