Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Officials Claim Drone Incursion Led to Shutdown of El Paso Airport

nytimes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

181–190 of 631 posts

Re: Officials Claim Drone Incursion Led to Shutdown of El Paso Airport

#181

Post by torpfactory »

grosswait wrote: post #168
torpfactory wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My read is most likely some kind of strike on the cartels. There hasn’t seemed to be any significant US military buildup so it’s something they’ll be able to do with a smaller force. The trapezoid makes me worried about a ground incision there- it extends to the border and would be a cover space for an invasion force. Absolutely bonkers that we are even having this discussion. The TFR is most likely contingency plann…

You are the first person to mention invasion. Kind of bonkers to jump to that conclusion.

It is totally nuts. We will see I guess. If there will be a ground invasion, people will see the convoys moving into position. You can’t really hide that much stuff.

Re: Officials Claim Drone Incursion Led to Shutdown of El Paso Airport

#182

Post by matthewaveryusa »

torpfactory wrote: post #155
lilytweed wrote: post #114

As someone else mentioned, there’s some speculation in aviation subreddits that the bounds of the altitude restriction map to the MANPAD capabilities that some cartels are purported to have. https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1r1s4zt/comment/o... My read is that the admin is planning forceful strikes on the cartels within Mexico and is worried about their ability to retaliate by taking down US aircraft across…

My read is most likely some kind of strike on the cartels. There hasn’t seemed to be any significant US military buildup so it’s something they’ll be able to do with a smaller force. The trapezoid makes me worried about a ground incision there- it extends to the border and would be a cover space for an invasion force. Absolutely bonkers that we are even having this discussion. The TFR is most likely contingency plann…

What’s also bonkers is our political whimpiness that allowed this to happen, right? If there is a drone response it’s pretty damning evidence that we are way too dovish in our policy against drug smuggling up until now

Re: Officials Claim Drone Incursion Led to Shutdown of El Paso Airport

#183

Post by NedF »

lilytweed wrote: post #114

As someone else mentioned, there’s some speculation in aviation subreddits that the bounds of the altitude restriction map to the MANPAD capabilities that some cartels are purported to have. https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1r1s4zt/comment/o... My read is that the admin is planning forceful strikes on the cartels within Mexico and is worried about their ability to retaliate by taking down US aircraft across…

[dead]

Re: Officials Claim Drone Incursion Led to Shutdown of El Paso Airport

#184

Post by omgJustTest »

lilytweed wrote: post #114

As someone else mentioned, there’s some speculation in aviation subreddits that the bounds of the altitude restriction map to the MANPAD capabilities that some cartels are purported to have. https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1r1s4zt/comment/o... My read is that the admin is planning forceful strikes on the cartels within Mexico and is worried about their ability to retaliate by taking down US aircraft across…

Knowing the restriction goes to 18k certainly says that either S-A or A-S reach must be limited but the as your post points out no buffer between MANPAD actual range and the limit imposed. I think unlikely to say MANPAD, specifically.

There's a small private airfield to the west with only a single victor airway connecting to el-paso. the victors end at 17999 ft, effectively cutting traffic for non-commercial or non-business jet operators.

Closure of the victor airway there seems, again limiting airborne craft due to airborne hazards.

Hazards in the air, near the surface that are, seemingly, unplanned with a cone pointing at mexico.

That's kind of the most anyone will get until more info, could be some urgent testing of some capability or response to small craft (drones) coming over the boarder. Emergency timing could be to garner interest or emphasize importance, which works well politically.

Las Cruces International Airport and Dana Jetport are unaffected.

Re: Officials Claim Drone Incursion Led to Shutdown of El Paso Airport

#185

Post by reactordev »

Eddy_Viscosity2 wrote: post #153
lilytweed wrote: post #114

As someone else mentioned, there’s some speculation in aviation subreddits that the bounds of the altitude restriction map to the MANPAD capabilities that some cartels are purported to have. https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1r1s4zt/comment/o... My read is that the admin is planning forceful strikes on the cartels within Mexico and is worried about their ability to retaliate by taking down US aircraft across…

Even Cartels know that shooting down civilian aircraft in US airspace would be an escalation that would lead to heavy retaliation. Doesn't seem likely to me.

Coming from groups that just pickup busses of people to murder, I wouldn’t be so sure that firing back at the US would be out of the question.

Re: Officials Claim Drone Incursion Led to Shutdown of El Paso Airport

#186

Post by bombcar »

petesergeant wrote: post #175
pigbearpig wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Maybe, or maybe FL180 is a nice clean line for class A airspace. No need to bother transcontinental flights for a local issue." Way more plauible

What does that mean sorry?

FL180 is 18000 feet, meaning that flights OVER don’t need to divert.

Re: Officials Claim Drone Incursion Led to Shutdown of El Paso Airport

#187

Post by alex43578 »

MajimasEyepatch wrote: post #79
fabian2k wrote: post #65

There is a circular restriction around the airport and a trapezoid one next to the city ( https://elpasomatters.org/2026/02/11/unexplained-faa-order-s... ). What are the plausible explanations here? I can't think of anything except military action against Mexico (or the cartels inside Mexico). But even that doesn't fit well. A suspected terror attack could explain the airspace around the airport, but not the weird tr…

[flagged]

Well, this wins for silliest non-alien theory, with bonus points for the hyperbole of “concentration camp” to describe illegal immigrant detention.

Re: Officials Claim Drone Incursion Led to Shutdown of El Paso Airport

#188

Post by anovikov »

petesergeant wrote: post #175
pigbearpig wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Maybe, or maybe FL180 is a nice clean line for class A airspace. No need to bother transcontinental flights for a local issue." Way more plauible

What does that mean sorry?

That it limits local flights but not international ones as they fly higher.

Re: Officials Claim Drone Incursion Led to Shutdown of El Paso Airport

#189

Post by hackable_sand »

Etheryte wrote: post #171
FranklinJabar wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

I'm pretty sure no one else reading the comment has any trouble understanding what is meant when talking about cartels in Mexico. What exactly is ambiguous to you?

[flagged]

Re: Officials Claim Drone Incursion Led to Shutdown of El Paso Airport

#190

Post by reactordev »

petesergeant wrote: post #175
pigbearpig wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Maybe, or maybe FL180 is a nice clean line for class A airspace. No need to bother transcontinental flights for a local issue." Way more plauible

What does that mean sorry?

It means that you have no business being below FL180 or 18,000ft to enter this airspace.
Post reply on HN