All articles tagged with #airspace
The Defense Department used a high-energy laser to shoot down a drone near Fort Hancock, Texas, triggering an FAA airspace closure and renewing scrutiny of cross-agency coordination in counter-drone operations, following a similar incident earlier this month near El Paso involving a balloon.
The DoD used counter-UAS authorities to down a border-patrol drone operating in military airspace near Fort Hancock, prompting an expanded temporary flight restriction. Officials say the action was coordinated with CBP and the FAA to counter cartel drone threats, with no commercial flights affected and plans to improve interagency cooperation moving forward.
A brief airspace closure over El Paso and nearby New Mexico exposed the difficulties of safely deploying anti-drone tech in urban areas, with questions about laser-based interdiction, interagency communication, and civilian risk, prompting calls for new protocols and oversight.
Poland’s Lublin and Rzeszów airports reopened after authorities said military aviation activity in Polish airspace, triggered by Russia’s strikes on Ukraine, had ended; Poland reported no airspace violations and thanked NATO and the German air force for help as air defense returned to normal and Ukraine reported strikes on energy facilities.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) advised European carriers to steer clear of Iran’s airspace because of high risks to civil flights from weapons and air-defense systems and unpredictable state actions amid tensions over Tehran’s crackdown on protests; Iran briefly closed its airspace before reopening it, and carriers such as Wizz Air, Lufthansa and British Airways continued to reroute around Iran and Iraq in response to the advisories.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency warns air operators not to fly within Iranian airspace due to a high likelihood of misidentification and potential Iranian defense responses to perceived attacks, amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions; operators are advised to exercise caution and implement contingency plans for flights near regional U.S. bases.
Iran issued a NOTAM closing its airspace for about two hours amid Western warnings that a US military strike could be imminent, causing flight disruptions and prompting international advisories as countries urged citizens to leave Iran and the US began repositioning forces in the region.
Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights for more than four hours amid high US-Iran tensions tied to Tehran’s crackdown on nationwide protests; international carriers diverted around Iran and some domestic flights resumed after the closure ended. The move, echoing past wartime airspace actions, prompted warnings from aviation safety groups about the risks of misidentification or missile activity, as U.S. bases in the region took precautionary steps.
Trump says he’s been assured Iran has halted the executions of protesters, while Tehran reopens its airspace after a near five-hour closure. The piece notes international diplomacy developments, including a UN briefing and a potential G7 sanctions response, alongside evacuations and a death toll of about 2,571 with more than 18,100 arrests in the crackdown.
Iran reopened its airspace after nearly five hours of closure prompted by U.S.–Iran tensions, forcing airlines to cancel, reroute or delay flights. Carriers like IndiGo and Air India faced disruptions, while Lufthansa and ITA Airways adjusted operations to avoid Iranian airspace as security risks from missiles and drones were highlighted.
Iran temporarily closed its airspace for two hours via a NOTAM, restricting flights to those with official permission as Western officials warned a U.S. attack was imminent; international carriers rerouted or paused flights and travelers were advised to depart the region.
U.S. airspace over parts of the Caribbean near Venezuela has been effectively closed following President Trump's strikes in Venezuela, leading to numerous flight cancellations and schedule adjustments by major airlines, with the situation still evolving as authorities monitor the airspace restrictions.
President Trump downplayed the threat to Venezuelan airspace amid US military actions in the Caribbean, including deploying Navy ships and conducting strikes on boats suspected of drug trafficking, amid concerns over legality and regional stability.
Venezuela condemned President Trump's call to close its airspace, calling it a colonialist threat and a violation of international law, amid ongoing tensions over US military actions against drug traffickers in the Caribbean.
President Trump declared Venezuela's airspace 'closed' amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the region, escalating tensions and prompting Venezuela to reject the claim as a 'colonial threat.' The U.S. has increased military and covert actions against Maduro's government, including naval deployments and strikes, while also considering diplomatic talks.