El Paso flights were grounded. Was it drones, a test or a mistake?

Flights were grounded overnight for "security reasons," but conflicting accounts have left travelers wondering what really triggered the shutdown.

Senator says El Paso airport shutdown shows coordination problem between FAA, Pentagon

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee said on Thursday the brief shutdown of El Paso airport by the Federal Aviation Administration because of safety concerns posed by the use of a military laser-based anti-drone system was unacceptable.

El Paso airport grounding was in response to testing of U.S. military technology, sources say

The testing, which was taking place near Fort Bliss, was of high-energy lasers that are designed to protect against drones from drug cartels that could cross over the U.S. border, three of the sources say.

Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say

The Pentagon allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser earlier this week, leading the Federal Aviation Administration to sudden

Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace: Report

The confusing arc of events began as the FAA announced it was shutting down all flight traffic over the city on the U.S.-Mexico border for 10 days.
The Texas Tribune

Pentagon let border agency use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say

The sources say the border security agency borrowed the laser and fired it without first coordinating with the aviation agency, sparking a sudden, short-lived shutdown.