WASHINGTON: A secret military laser-based anti-drone system prompted the Trump administration to ban air traffic for more than seven hours in and out of the Texas border city of El Paso after US aviation officials raised drastic concerns about the safety of commercial air traffic. The sudden closure of the nation’s 71st busiest airport by the Federal Aviation Administration stranded air travelers and disrupted medical evacuation flights overnight.

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The FAA said the temporary restrictions would be in place until Feb. 21.

The U.S. has halted all flights to and from El Paso International Airport in Texas, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said without giving more details.

The FAA has suspended all commercial, cargo, and private flights to El Paso through Feb. 20, citing unspecified national security concerns.

Niente voli su El Paso per "ragioni di sicurezza speciali. I droni dei narcos messicani sconfinano e vengono disattivati, così l'allarme rientra

Violators were told they would be shot down.

The FAA said the area around the Texas border town would be closed for "special security reasons".

La medida en la ciudad fronteriza con México no afecta a los aviones que sobrevuelen el área cerrada por encima de los 5.500 metros ni a la vecina Ciudad Juárez

The FAA has halted flights at El Paso International Airport for 10 days.

The Federal Aviation Administration reopened the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas on Wednesday morning, just hours after it announced a 10-day closure.

The sudden and surprising airspace closure over El Paso, Texas, stemmed from the Pentagon’s plans to test a laser for use in shooting down drones used by Mexican drug cartels.

FAA initially cited ‘security reasons’ for shutting off skies around El Paso airport in area along border with Mexico

The Federal Aviation Administration ended what was initially announced as a 10-day suspension of all flights over El Paso, Texas on Wednesday.

The Trump administration's swift reversal has provoked questions about the legitimacy of the foreign drone claims.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy declared that "the threat has been neutralized" after the airspace was closed for several hours.

Officials in US border city say FAA decisions caused major disruption – and residents are still scrambling for answers

The FAA initially announced a 10-day airspace closure but removed the restriction less than eight hours later.

WASHINGTON: A secret military laser-based anti-drone system prompted the Trump administration to ban air traffic for more than seven hours in and out of the Texas border city of…

Drone warfare expert Brett Velicovich said the dysfunction in Texas raises questions about whether the U.S. will be prepared to deal with a significant drone threat.