“In a move that appeared to surprise state and local officials, the restriction went into effect at 11:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday and will remain in place until 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 20.”

FAA Halts All Flights at El Paso Airport for 10 Days: Live Updates

“F.A.A. officials responded by imposing a rare, 10-day closure of the surrounding airspace up to 18,000 feet, out of concern for the safety of other aircraft in the region, citing “special security reasons.””

Military’s Use of Anti-Drone Technology Said to Cause El Paso Airspace Closure

“The latest incident occurred late on Tuesday when the Federal Aviation Administration said it was suspending all flights in the El Paso area for 10 days. The closure was put in place with little warning or explanation, angering local officials, businesses and travelers. On Wednesday morning, the agency abruptly reversed course. ... The transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, said the shutdown was a response to an incursion of drones from Mexican drug cartels. But multiple people briefed on the situation told The New York Times that the airspace had been closed after immigration officials used an anti-drone laser this week that was on loan from the Pentagon without giving the F.A.A. time to assess the risks associated with the technology.”

Trump’s Actions Test the Fragile World of Air Travel

“Late Tuesday night, the F.A.A. administrator, Bryan Bedford, caught off guard that the system was being used without authorization and concerned for public safety, believed he had little choice but to close the airspace for 10 days, according to more than a half-dozen people. It was an extraordinary decision that surprised the flying public and local officials. Under pressure from the White House, Mr. Bedford rescinded the order on Wednesday, setting off a bout of finger-pointing within the administration that continued throughout the week.”

Inside the Debacle That Led to the Closure of El Paso’s Airspace

“The restrictions were lifted less than eight hours later but much remains unclear about why officials abruptly shut down a major regional airport for more than a week.”

What We Know About the El Paso Airspace Shutdown

“On Wednesday morning, as passengers, airport workers and municipal officials in El Paso fumed over the closure, the White House quickly engineered a course reversal, resulting in the F.A.A.’s cancellation of the shutdown after about seven and a half hours. Normalcy had resumed, at least for air travel. But at the Pentagon and at F.A.A. headquarters in Washington, much was unresolved. ... the F.A.A., frustrated by its inability to obtain its desired safety briefing on the new anti-drone laser technology, announced a 10-day shutdown of the airspace for a city of nearly 700,000 people.”

Closing of El Paso Airspace Adds to Tension Between F.A.A. and Pentagon