The U.S. military shot down what it initially assessed to be a suspicious drone near El Paso, Texas, only to later determine the object was a party balloon, according to multiple reports.
Fox News first reported that the airborne object was intercepted after raising concerns of a potential drone operating near the southern border. Officials later concluded the object was not an unmanned aircraft but a party balloon, a U.S. official told the outlet.
The airstrike prompted a temporary closure of airspace around El Paso International Airport for what authorities described as security reasons. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later lifted the restriction, stating there was no threat to commercial travel, Fox reported.
Newsweek reached out to the FAA and the Pentagon via email for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Why It Matters
The airspace shutdown prompted concern and speculation that there may be an escalation of U.S. action against Mexico, should the reported drone be linked to drug cartels. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum denied the allegations earlier Wednesday—the latest in a series of comments from her on the potential threat of military action on Mexican soil over drug smuggling into the U.S.
What To Know
CBS News reported that the airspace shutdown followed internal disagreements between Pentagon officials and the FAA over drone-related testing in the area. According to sources cited by CBS, the military had been conducting counter-drone operations near Fort Bliss, including the use of anti-drone technology designed to disable or destroy unmanned aerial systems.
The FAA initially issued a notice closing airspace below 18,000 feet for up to 10 days, an unusually broad restriction that disrupted civilian and medical flights. The closure was lifted within hours after discussions among federal officials, including at the White House.
Sources told CBS that at least one airborne object targeted during the operation was later determined to be a party balloon. Officials also indicated there may have been legitimate drone activity near the border, potentially involving cartel-linked unmanned aircraft, though details remain unclear.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the shootdown as involving a suspected cartel drone incursion that had been neutralized, according to CBS. However, the misidentification of the balloon raised questions about the circumstances that led to both the shootdown and the temporary grounding of flights.
Sheinbaum said her government had no information indicating drone activity crossing into Mexican airspace during the airstrike.
What People Are Saying
Representative Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat whose district includes El Paso, in a statement earlier Wednesday: “I believe the FAA owes the community and the country an explanation as to why this happened so suddenly and abruptly, and why it was lifted so suddenly and abruptly.”
El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson, at a Wednesday morning news conference: “Medical evacuation flights were forced to divert to Las Cruces. All aviation operations were grounded, including emergency flights. This was a major and unnecessary disruption, one that has not occurred since 9/11.”
What Happens Next
Mexican defense and navy secretaries were set to meet with Washington, D.C., officials on Wednesday, while the country’s security secretary will meet with U.S. counterparts Thursday as part of ongoing discussions between the two nations.
Update 2/11/26, 3:50 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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