FAA lifts flight restrictions over El Paso and New Orleans hours after instituting closure: ‘Cartel drone incursion’

Published February 11, 2026 9:47am ET



The Federal Aviation Administration lifted its airspace closure over El Paso and New Orleans just hours after instituting it, following a Mexican “cartel drone incursion” into U.S. airspace.

The FAA originally instituted the shutdown for 10 days, through Feb. 21, but it was lifted after a few hours, according to the Associated Press.

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