El Paso airspace closed after military tested anti-drone laser, officials say

The airspace around El Paso, Texas, was unexpectedly closed for about ten days. According to sources, the closure happened because the U.S. military planned to test a laser system designed to counter drones, which led to a dispute with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over safety procedures.

The FAA has since reopened the airspace, stating there was no threat to commercial aviation. Officials clarified that the initial closure was for "special security reasons" related to the military's counter-drone technology test, not due to an active threat.