Cartel Drone Penetrated U.S. Airspace, Duffy Says — FAA Responded With Deadly‑Force Lockdown

( Breitbart )

A cartel drone incursion over El Paso prompted the FAA’s unprecedented national‑defense airspace shutdown over El Paso and eastern New Mexico, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The incident raises new questions about cross‑border threats as federal agencies remain silent on the details.

Secretary Duffy says a cartel drone breach forced the FAA to lock down El Paso’s airspace under a deadly‑force order, even as other federal agencies refuse to explain why the emergency was imposed — or why it was lifted within hours. Breitbart Texas reached out to the Department of Transportation, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other federal agencies for additional information. No response has been received at this time.

In a post on social media, Duffy wrote: “The FAA and DOW acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion. The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region.”

The secretary announced that the airspace restrictions had been lifted and that all flights had resumed. FAA officials also posted about the sudden lifting of the unprecedented announcement of a ten-day closure of the airspace over El Paso and the surrounding areas.

It is unclear who ordered the ten-day shutdown or what action was taken to address the perceived danger to air traffic around El Paso.

Breitbart Texas has reported extensively on Mexican cartels’ use of weaponized drones. It is not clear if any alleged drone incursion included a weaponized drone, a drug trafficking drone, or simply a cartel surveillance drone.