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Officials Claim Drone Incursion Led to Shutdown of El Paso Airport

nytimes.com

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

#551

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or you say “until further notice”. Indeterminate end dates are not a new problem.

They don't have a mechanism for doing that. A military base near me has had continuous flight restrictions for decades. Each notice lasts a few months (e.g. https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_8746 ) and before it expires they issue a new one.

The NOTAM system certainly does allow users to specify the end date for a TFR as "PERM" (Permanent).

For example, see the Disneyland TFR (FDC 4/3635): https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_4_3635

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

#552
post #512

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-military-shot-down-party... US military shot down party balloon near El Paso after drone suspicion, official says Would…

Just think about the terrorist potential here. Buy a $10 party balloon, let it go near a major airport and they'll panic and shut down the airport. That's a lot of havoc for a couple of bucks.

Schiphol Airport has large No Balloons signs when you go down to the train station. Aluminum balloons can create havoc on the overhead power lines. It recently shut down the train service for the morning.

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

#553

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A cartel using a SAM against a US civilian aircraft would massively solidify public opinion against them In what world is public opinion not universally against the cartels? It's hard to take you seriously after that.

The world where Americans buy billions in illegal drugs every year and turn a blind eye to cartels. "My dealer is nice"

The cartel can recreate 9/11 and people will still buy drugs.

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

#554
post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I highly doubt the Russians/separatists running the Buk knew the identity of the flight before shooting it down.

Most certainly not, but I don't see how that is relevant. The problem (from a victim/Dutch perspective) is that there is complete denial from the Russian side (despite heaps of evidence around the people involved, origin and transport of the launcher from Russian territory). Even if Russian judges and prosecutors are completely corrupt and biased, an actual investigation/trial is the least that would be expected here…

Because the thread was about how shooting down a civilian airliner has consequences, and the person I replied to insinuated it didn't because Malaysia was ill-equipped to push the issue militarily.

Which isn't relevant if the people who shot it down had no idea if it was / wasn't Malaysian.

Similar to how cartels likely wouldn't have the sophistication to nationally ID any aerial targets they choose to shoot.

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

#555

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just think about the terrorist potential here. Buy a $10 party balloon, let it go near a major airport and they'll panic and shut down the airport. That's a lot of havoc for a couple of bucks.

>Just think about the terrorist potential here. Buy a $10 party balloon, let it go near a major airport and they'll panic and shut down the airport. That's a lot of havoc for a couple of bucks. And rather than see the government have egg on face people (probably a majority here) will vote for politicians who promise all sorts of licenses and regulations on balloons because of it and then in 20yr when I complain and r…

At least then we’d stop throwing away all our helium away!

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

#556

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just think about the terrorist potential here. Buy a $10 party balloon, let it go near a major airport and they'll panic and shut down the airport. That's a lot of havoc for a couple of bucks.

Schiphol Airport has large No Balloons signs when you go down to the train station. Aluminum balloons can create havoc on the overhead power lines. It recently shut down the train service for the morning.

And they sell them right in the arrivals hall...

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

#557

I wonder if this was issued by the VP’s Secret Service to the FAA directly; they got caught last year fucking with DC airspace using a beacon spoofer, and they would (presumably, they’re the SS) have the authority to issue these secretly without having to be named and answer for the impact: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/aviation-flights-whi... (See also Die Hard 2, I suppose.) But: of the “less simple than…

I did not have “airspace closed for ten days to shoot down a drone with lasers” anywhere on my bingo card. Huh. When life gives you lemons, file a TFR about it, I suppose.

Correction: Party ballon.

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

#558

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>. "The FAA and DOW acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion. The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region. The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming." https://x.com/SecDuffy

“Threat” might be an exaggeration. https://www.newsweek.com/us-military-shot-down-party-balloon...

YHGTBFKM.

Unbelievable. Next I'll read they shot down "balloon boy".

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

#560

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They would get crushed like a bug. Much as I despise them, I'm not so sure that would be the case. I seem to remember folks saying the same about the Taliban, and the cartels have a lot more money and high-tech kit, than the Taliban. Asymmetric warfare is a tough gig, on all sides.

The Taliban was repeatedly crushed. All of the leadership was killed many times over. The problem is the Taliban is an idea that transcends individual human members and it can always be reconstituted. It also benefited from being able to harbor supporters in Pakistan, which is a nuclear power the US was not willing to also invade. There isn't a real analogy there because cartel leaders have no official state support…

All this is true. Yet the cartels operate like militarized insurgents. Adopting similar tactics seen in Ukraine fighting so it’s interesting to say the least that they might be utilizing drone technology for their purposes.

I didn’t mean to start this giant thread about Mexican Cartels but here we are. Most think it’s just an isolated problem. Others know it’s more widespread. I simply stated that these murderous thugs are out there in full force with technology and armored vehicles. If provoked, they would lash out. It’s ridiculous because of course going up against the US is a losing proposition but each “generation” of cartel leader thinks they can somehow manage it.

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