We live in strange times, but this is especially odd, even in an era where I feel like we’re desensitized to most things. El Paso Airport (ELP) is closed for the next 10 days, and we don’t know why (and don’t worry, I’ll save you the Vasu Raja jokes… IYKYK).
Continue reading: El Paso Airport Mysteriously Closes For 10 Days For “Special Security Reasons”
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Whatever Mango Mussolini is up to, it'll be another distraction from the evidence of sexual assault of minors that continues to drip out from the files.
Why save us from the Vasu Raja jokes Ben? I was looking forward to hearing some when I clicked on the post 🙂
Come on Ben (and readers), give me the best Vasu Raja jokes you have
Okay. You asked for it. "AA's business model." Okay. Here's another. "Another airline hired him." I got a million of 'em.
You have to believe there really is a threat to aviation - potentially drone activity from Mexico - but I have to believe that this wasn't done without a very clear understanding of the risk and what would be done to eliminate it.
WAG THE DOG... "a strategy where a political leader engages in diversionary tactics—often involving military action or another high-stakes maneuver—to distract the public from a pending or existing scandal, crisis, or failure."
Hmmmm....run by the local government as a municipal service, the local government and mayor are both Democratic, who'd have thunk it. Airport also has some role with NASA, which perhaps some Ketamine addict wants to bring in-house or at least see not being used.
Outlets reporting it has to do with US government drones being used to counter the cartel in that area.
I am seeing multiple reports that it’s the DoD that has requested this due to activity at Fort Bliss and others, perhaps ME related;
https://x.com/petemuntean/status/2021573468341383284?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Kinda sucks that this is maybe the most isolated major city in the continental US
They're securing the flight zone at El Paso because there's a huge alien's spaceship right now ready to introduce themselves to the world.
Yeah, everyone will suddenly be an expert on this. We don't know why this is occurring. Could be a very good reason to yeah covering up for other "current events." Smart people would refrain from making judgement/reasons until facts are known. But......
El Paso" Strategy: Raja's strategy at American involved moving away from traditional, large-hub business travel, shifting capacity toward Sun Belt cities, with El Paso frequently cited as a symbol of this shift. This strategy was generally viewed as a failure
Ah, a classic George Nathan Romey retort... 'everyone else is dumb these days... so no one can have an opinion... but me...' Nah, Georgie, we're here for 'hot takes.' Dish one out, sir!
What a bunch of jokers... I guess the swift, negative reaction didn't go well... try again!
Vasu has a long memory--he/Kirby/Darth Vader/UAL are singlehandedly closing off AA's most profitable station, via his consulting firm donations...
Just saw this report:
Today’s Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the next ten days over El Paso is reportedly due to counter-drone operations by the U.S. Armed Forces targeting the cartels in Mexico, utilizing experimental technologies from Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss, with the Defense Department telling the FAA that they could not assure “civilian flight safety” over El Paso and parts of New Mexico, sources briefed on the situation have told CNN.
Four paragraphs, please! (And then... Tim with the first comment, praising him. "Nick's right!")
"but I have to believe that this wasn't done without a very clear understanding of the risk and what would be done to eliminate it."
So... you haven't been paying much attention to this administration's decision making process (or lack there of).
And I would never reply to a comment on a post like this one.
There, I've out-Magritte'd you.
while some will turn this into a bash of the government, there likely were very valid reasons for issuing and then cancelling the TFR.
one theory is that the US and Mexican governments were going to JOINTLY target cartels which is exactly what Trump has asked Mexico to do.
It serves Mexico no good to have cartels controlling parts of their territory or engaging on foreign soil. I suspect Mexico agreed to cooperate w/ the US.
The US Air Force said it could not ensure the safety of aviation in the area and someone severely underestimated the cost to the region of cutting off air transport and even emergency transport (medical evacuation).
If that is the case, the USAF will sharpen their pencils and do it again w/o the impact to aviation.
If the US and Mexico are really cooperating in going after cartels, that is good for both sides.
The airspace ban has been lifted as quickly as it was implemented.
https://lite.cnn.com/2026/02/11/us/faa-el-paso-texas-flight-restrictions-hnk
Tim, no one is in-favor of cartels. No. One. So, if true, please, by all means, get'r done.
If even what you suggest is true, then, this last-minute, major 10-day closure, then retraction, was a huge lapse in judgment by the Department of Defense (yes, still their official name...).
Timmy. You don't have to give these clowns the benefit of the doubt. They've long since shown through their actions that they're both incompetent and acting in bad faith.
I am shocked to learn that the administration implemented something without thinking it through. First time that has ever happened.
Can I just say—when people post obviously AI-generated responses, it doesn’t make them sound clever or insightful. It just adds to the growing wave of robotic dialogue that’s becoming increasingly obvious across the internet. Personally, I find that a few spelling, grammar, or punctuation quirks make conversations feel more human, more engaging, and far more entertaining.
Heads up Juarez. The administration will need to borrow some trouble since DHS really isn't finding much to justify the money spent here.
I don't disagree, 1990.
the real story might be that Mexico and the US are ready to cooperate to target cartels.
the fact that there was minimal impact to aviation says that the DoD is not above public criticism and cutting off aviation access to a US city for military activity is not acceptable.
and you do realize that Minneapolis police are now arresting ICE protestors that are blocking streets and attacking personal property? The current administration is pushing the envelope on many strategies but they are succeeding at their objectives. Let's see what actually happens with cartel activity but I suspect that the US and Mexico will have stronger relations which does benefit aviation.
DURRRRR TRUMPPPPPP DURRRRR
It was cartel drones people...
https://wgntv.com/news/national/faa-grounds-all-flights-to-and-from-el-paso-texas-for-10-days/
it's funny because mangos begin their lives hanging and end them on the ground, whereas Mussolinis . . .
Naw, Tim, This is just a masterful joint collaboration between DL and the FAA to drive business to the "premium" Aeromexico in Ciudad Juarez. Surprised you haven't broken that story yet.
is Ciudad Juarez’ airport affected?
ELP is close to White Sands Missile Range fwiw
White Sands is a beautiful national park, btw. Just be careful out there. Super hot, usually.
Tim, if you call all that 'success'... I'll remind you, the midterms are in 264 days. We'll see about that. Your 'team' would need to suppress a lot of voters to remain in-power. They've lost the narrative on all the above. Sure, fine, let's actually collaborate with the Mexican government and our other allies to go after actual criminals, not just made-up ones, like fisherman. We don't just murder folks... (Or, at least we're not supposed to.)
and yet multiple news sources are saying there was drone activity coming from across the border.
Either the DOD dealt with it much faster than they expected or the US told Mexico to deal w/ it or the US would. We likely will never know the true story.
Yes, midterms happen and that is a good thing. and specific to DHS, let me once again remind you that no other city was as brazen in their unwillingness to work w/ DHS. Minneapolis is now doing that - all the feds have asked of any city or state - and things are much more calm.
As much as you or I may or may not like the policies of the federal government, the way to change it is at the ballot box. If enough Americans are unhappy in 9 months, Congress will flip. It won't be the first or last time that has happened in a 4 year presidential terms.
We'll all survive another 2 or 4 or 8 more years.
or at least I will
Uh oh, Dunn Airlines fourth largest hub closed for a week!?! This bodes so very poorly for their company! Share price down nearly 25% today! 15% of the fleet stuck at this airport! This is Crazy! Tim Dunn personally I'm sure without a shadow of a doubt will be raging hard in the comments! Between this and the news yesterday on United having had officially "beaten" "his" airline in terms of premium product yesterday - Tim "Tom" may even need to finaly admkt that United is the superior airline!!
If there were drones coming across the border, I would hope any administration would take action.
It speaks volumes that you think national defense is a partisan issue.
Do you not remember how many people were freaking out over drones over NJ?
put the partisan coolaid back in the fridge
To Deuce: Thank you, Dunce, for your revered and well-thought out response! Hearty appreciations!
To all other readers: Perhaps we'll see Tom take his own advice and "Don't do drugs!" Seeing as this is most certainly a "individual" who is heavily drugged up especially seeing as this has led to what The Scientists are referring to a "very nasty case" of Delta Derangement Syndrome!
Latest news is Drones from Mexican Cartel were responsible for intrusions & US Military was trying new anti Drone weapons and succeeded in dropping a few Drones.
Here is my Question, I thought Benicio Del Toro Killed all the Cartel members in that part of Mexico in SICARIO. What happened? Please don't tell me the movie was Fake.
My theory is some dumb dumb political appointee was taking part in a drill and accidentally sent out the notice for real. Now they’re pretending it was a real thing.
I think you meant that YOU have the derangement syndrome and that is it obvious for EVERYONE (including ME) to see! SAD!
Regardless I have faith that AeroB13a and 1990 will keep their promises to me and continue to call out Dishonorable Tim "P.F. Chang" Dunn's hypocrisy at every avenue! Thanks!
It's weird and funny how you and Tim Dunn use the exact same phrases and syntax. It's almost like, wait for it, you're the same person!
Weird and funny, and coincidence fer shur!
@Tim
How is it partisanship when the Trump admin's record so far is one of rank incompetence? How is it partisanship when Trump, his cabinet secretaries, and the heads of his agencies blatantly lie to us, and continue lying even after the actual facts get reported? How is it partisanship when Trump and his lackies scream "TDS" and "fake news" every time they get called on their lies? I'll wait for independent confirmation instead of taking their word for it, thanks.
As for the possibility of a drone incursion though, Copenhagen airport had a Russian drone incursion in September of last year, with a 4 hour shutdown. They didn't panic and announce a 10 day shutdown. Neither did Poland when a separate Russian drone incursion happened in the same month. NJ was mass hysteria, no different than the "Great Los Angeles Air Raid" of 1942. Somehow, I don't think the cartel leaders are dumb enough and suicidal enough to launch a drone attack against a US airport. Why would they when they can just keep getting rich running drugs?
Why didn't he clean it up during his first term, then? He kinda seems like a loser.
Lol Tim. Even if national defense isn't a partisan issue, claiming something is national defense that really isn't is very much a Republican issue.