Apple News Today “Chaos and confusion”: inside the shutdown of El Paso airspace
21 snips
Feb 12, 2026 Air traffic over El Paso was shut down suddenly, sparking confusion and questions about counter-drone testing and safety. Officials offered conflicting explanations as local leaders and lawmakers reacted. Discussions also cover Israeli-Palestinian policy moves after a high-profile Washington meeting, rising ICE detention numbers and facility conditions, and breaking news from Canada and the jobs report.
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Targets May Have Been Harmless Balloons
- Officials later suggested lasers targeted cartel drones, but reports indicate some objects hit were Mylar party balloons.
- That mismatch raised doubts about the threat level and the justification for the closure.
Local Officials Said Emergency Flights Diverted
- El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser (note: transcript names Renard Johnson) said medical evacuation and emergency flights were forced to divert.
- He called the grounding a major and unnecessary disruption not seen since 9/11.
Counter-Drone Use Faces Practical Limits
- The Pentagon seeks authority to use counter-drone systems at borders and high-profile events like the World Cup.
- But routine commercial travel creates conflicts that could limit or complicate deployment.