Additional Coverage:
- US military shot down party balloon near El Paso after suspecting drone, official says (foxnews.com)
El Paso Airspace Briefly Shut Down After Military Mistook Party Balloon for Drone
EL PASO, TX – What began as a potential national security alert near El Paso earlier this week ultimately deflated into a rather embarrassing misidentification: the U.S. military shot down what was later confirmed to be a party balloon, initially believed to be a foreign drone.
The incident led to a complete shutdown of airspace around El Paso International Airport, causing significant disruption.
The temporary flight restrictions in Texas, which U.S. officials initially linked to counter-drone measures, also prompted a response from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. She stated Wednesday that her government has no information indicating drone activity along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“We have no information indicating drone activity along the border,” President Sheinbaum said during a news conference. “If the FAA or any U.S. government agency has relevant information, they can ask directly the Government of Mexico.”
She clarified that Mexican airspace had not been closed and pledged to investigate the specific reasons behind the temporary closure. “There’s no place for speculation.
We will wait for the information and continue to uphold what we have consistently maintained: permanent, open communication.”
Earlier, a separate U.S. administration official had indicated that Mexican cartel drones had breached U.S. airspace near El Paso, leading to counter-drone measures. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had temporarily restricted flights in and out of El Paso International Airport for “special security reasons” on Wednesday morning. The restriction was initially set for an unusually long 10-day period, through February 20, a timeframe rarely seen for a major commercial airport.
Temporary flight restrictions are typically reserved for high-profile events like presidential travel, emergency operations, or specific, limited national security concerns. Their implementation near a busy border airport without a clear and significant security threat is uncommon.
However, shortly after the restriction was imposed, the FAA and the Department of War reopened the airspace, determining there was “no threat to commercial travel,” according to the administration official.
This episode comes amidst heightened cross-border security tensions. U.S. officials have been increasingly vocal in recent months about drug cartels utilizing unmanned aerial systems for surveillance, smuggling coordination, and reconnaissance along the southern border. The Trump administration has also been pressing regional governments to enhance cooperation in combating drug cartels and fentanyl trafficking networks, which U.S. officials consider a direct homeland security threat.
President Sheinbaum has, however, consistently rejected U.S. offers for military intervention against cartels on Mexican territory. Recounting a past conversation where former President Trump offered military assistance, Sheinbaum reiterated last month, “We told him, so far it’s going very well, it’s not necessary, and furthermore there is Mexico’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and he understood.”