FAA lifts unprecedented El Paso airspace restrictions after seven hours; 14 flights canceled
elpasomatters.org
Federal officials abruptly closed and then reopened El Paso’s airspace within seven hours, grounding commercial, military and emergency flights while questions remain about the alleged drone activity that prompted the shutdown.

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/47269276

The Federal Aviation Administration has closed airspace over El Paso and parts of southern New Mexico for 10 days under a national defense designation, offering no explanation for the rare move. The FAA order states aircraft violating the restriction could face interception and possible use of deadly force.

  • Optional@lemmy.worldOP
    291·
    23 hours ago

    Updated:

    The Federal Aviation Administration dropped unprecedented airspace restrictions for El Paso after seven hours Wednesday morning, but not before flights were canceled at El Paso International Airport and El Pasoans were gripped by anxiety.

    El Paso leaders harshly criticized the FAA for issuing the notice with no communication with local officials.

    In a social media post, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA and what the Trump administration calls the Department of War acted “to address a cartel drone incursion.”

      • dogslayeggs@lemmy.world
        9·
        21 hours ago

        Yes, they have changed the unofficial yet almost completely official name of the DoD to the DoW. It hasn’t fully officially been named that, because it requires an act of Congress, but everyone is now calling it that even in official correspondence.

        • dhork@lemmy.worldEnglish
          13·
          21 hours ago

          I’ll be deep in the cold, dead ground before I recognize the Department of War

          • village604@adultswim.fanEnglish
            3·
            20 hours ago

            I think that’s actually what it was originally called. Department of Defense is the lie since it’s basically never been used for defensive purposes.

            • dhork@lemmy.worldEnglish
              3·
              19 hours ago

              According to Wikipedia, there was a period of time after WWII when it was known as the “National Military Establishment”. They changed that once they realized that NME could be pronounced “Enemy”…