After blocking all air travel over a 2,000-square-mile area of southern New Mexico, the Federal Aviation Administration has rescinded the flight ban.
The FAA closed the area to air travel reopened the area to air travel on Thursday after two days. According to the federal administration, all flights below 18,000 feet were halted with the hold to last 10 days. The El Paso International Airport hold was lifted Wednesday morning just seven hours after they went into effect.
The FAA did not respond to media inquiries by the El Paso Times about why the flight ban remained in place even after flights in El Paso resumed.
During a flight ban, military assets could be used to down an aircraft if they are deemed to be a threat of any kind.
While reports as to why the flight area was closed was due to drones by Mexican cartels or a balloon drifting into sensitive airspace, the FAA did not notify city leaders, airlines or passengers of the move causing rampant speculation and the rebuke by city and state leaders.
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: FAA rescinds New Mexico flight ban
Reporting by Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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