During a press conference, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made a swift exit when confronted by a reporter about a potential incident involving US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The situation allegedly caused the temporary closure of an airport due to a suspected mishap with a balloon.
Noem abruptly concluded a Friday briefing on election security after being asked about the El Paso airspace shutdown earlier that week. The closure reportedly occurred because a party balloon was mistaken for a drone linked to a Mexican cartel.
A reporter inquired, “Can you confirm if CBP mistakenly targeted a party balloon with a laser, thinking it was a drone? If true, why wasn’t there coordination with the FAA?”
An FAA official made the decision to close the airspace on Tuesday without informing key figures such as the White House, the Pentagon, Homeland Security, or local authorities. The restriction was lifted hours later, with the FAA stating that the military had not provided details on the timing of their anti-drone laser operations.
Noem remarked during the press conference, “This was a joint agency task force undertaking. We’re working on improving communication, and we value our collaboration with the Department of War and the FAA moving forward.”
‘And, we’re continuing to work on the communication through that, but recognize we’re grateful for the partnership of the Department of War and the FAA as we go forward.’
The reporter went for a follow-up question but was denied by Noem, who turned away to thank the rest of the press before stepping away.
A laser was, in fact, used to shoot down party balloons, sources told NBC News.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem quickly fled the podium at a news conference on Friday after she was questioned about the closure of El Paso airspace on Tuesday due to a party balloon possibly being mistaken for a Mexican cartel drone
An FAA Administrator decided to close the airspace on Tuesday without alerting the White House, the Pentagon, Homeland Security officials, or local officials
Officially, the US Border Patrol has not said whether its employees were behind the deployment of the laser, meant to obliterate drones using extreme heat.
When asked by the Daily Mail whether its agents had used the laser, an agency spokesman told us to direct our questions to the White House.
The department also refused to say exactly where the laser was used and what it was shot at.
Border Patrol agents who spoke with Daily Mail did not know who had deployed the laser; however, they believe the unverified narrative about the balloons is incorrect.
They explained that drones sent by Mexican cartels often breach US airspace in and around El Paso- calling it a ‘regular occurrence.’
The White House stated on Wednesday, saying: ‘Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace.’
The restricted airspace covered a ten-mile-wide area centered roughly five miles southwest of El Paso, extending from the ground up to 18,000 feet
A plane flies over El Paso International Airport after the airspace over the city was reopened a few hours after the closure
‘The Department of Defense took action to disable the drones,’ it added.
El Paso airport describes itself as the gateway to West Texas, southern New Mexico, and northern Mexico. Southwest, United, American, and Delta all operate flights from there, among others.
The last time US airspace was shut down for national security was after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The FAA also temporarily closed airspace over New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, but that was due to storm damage.
Unlike previous restrictions, the El Paso closure blocked all flights over the city, including police and medical helicopters.
It is a move rarely, if ever, seen in modern US aviation.
