El Paso airport reels as sudden FAA flight ban sparks chaos, texts reveal

POLITICO obtained El Paso International Airport group texts showing night-time concerns as the FAA imposed a temporary airspace closure, with staff seeking information after being told ‘Not an error’ and debating whether the ban was due to a cartel drone incursion or a clash over laser-defense countermeasures; the order disrupted dozens of flights, was lifted the next morning, and highlighted coordination gaps between the FAA and the Defense Department.