U.S. military authorities decided to close airspace temporarily in the border city of El Paso to test an anti-drone laser, according to leaks to U.S. media.
This version contradicts the initial information provided by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who attributed the closure to an alleged incursion into U.S. territory by drones belonging to a Mexican drug cartel.
According to leaks, the Department of Defense did not communicate its plans to test this laser with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), leading to the abrupt closure of airspace.
As reported by Fox News, military authorities had used the laser earlier this week to shoot down what they believed to be a drone, but it ended up being a “party balloon.”
The network also assured that this error would have been the reason for the laser system tests that forced the closure of the airspace.
Local authorities were also not informed of the Pentagon’s plans, which took place near the Fort Bliss military base, the mayor, police chief and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar detailed in two press conferences this morning.
“This unnecessary decision has caused chaos and confusion in the El Paso community. This should never have happened,” complained Mayor Renard Johnson in statements to the press.
“You cannot restrict airspace without coordinating with the mayor’s office, it is unacceptable,” he added.
El Paso Police Chief Pete Pacillas also revealed that the city “has not been notified” of any aerial incursions by Mexican cartels.
“That is a rumor we have heard, nothing more, but we have not yet been given any official determination as to why it was closed, so we are not going to speculate about it,” the official told reporters.
On Wednesday morning, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported that the Pentagon and the FAA “neutralized” a “cartel drone raid” in El Paso.
The FAA issued an unusual notice last night about the suspension of all flights in El Paso “for special safety reasons,” which went into effect at 23:30 local time on Tuesday.
The suspension was scheduled to last until 23:30 local time on February 20.
However, the ban was lifted the same Wednesday.
The restriction covered an area of 16 kilometers around El Paso and the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, in the state of New Mexico.
The suspension of flights in the US-Mexico border area coincides with an increase in tension between the governments of the two countries following repeated threats by President Donald Trump of possible ground attacks against Mexican drug cartels, designated as terrorist organizations by Washington.
Filed under: Anti-drone laser tests
With information from EFE
