This morning, I saw the news that the airspace over El Paso Airport in Texas was suddenly closed by the FAA.

All flights were suspended for 10 days, but the closure was lifted after about 7 hours. This is the first time a major U.S. city airport has been closed like this since 9/11.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced, "A Mexican cartel drone invaded U.S. airspace, and the Department of Defense neutralized it."

However, multiple media outlets, including CNN and NBC, reported a different story. The actual reason was that the Pentagon was testing high-energy lasers to intercept cartel drones at Fort Bliss, and there was no prior coordination with the FAA. The military shot down four balloons with lasers this week, and the FAA closed the airspace because it could not ensure the safety of civilian aircraft.

El Paso Mayor Leonard Johnson stated at a press conference, "This should not have happened."

No prior notification was given to the airport, police, or local officials. Medical emergency helicopters had to reroute 70 km to Las Cruces.

The TSA director also testified that he did not receive any notification. Congressman Joaquin Castro wrote on X, "There was no prior notice or reasonable explanation. Such a reckless decision will undermine public trust in safety."

Antonio International Airport is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the border city of Laredo, Mexico.

Right next to it are Lackland Air Force Base and Fort Sam Houston. The structure of a civilian airport next to military facilities is the same as in El Paso.

If the Pentagon is testing cartel response weapons in border areas and coordination with the FAA is this poor, there is no guarantee that the next airport to close won't be SAT. Moreover, there was a similar airspace closure in Hudspeth County near El Paso last November. This is not a one-time incident; it's a pattern.

The threat of cartel drones being real, due to the laser tests, or both is still unclear.

However, closing an airport in a major U.S. city overnight without notifying the mayor, TSA, or congress members is not normal.

I fly out of SAT every month. Who can guarantee that the next airport to close won't be one I frequently use?

The unexpected emergency closure and subsequent reopening of El Paso Airport raises concerns about the basic infrastructure in my area. I hope the government provides explanations quickly so that local residents are not worried.