In El Paso, Texas, according to CNN, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has closed airspace for ten days, citing "special security reasons." And this move is fueling speculation online.
According to CNN reporters Karina Tsui and Diego Mendoza, "A notice by the FAA classifies the airspace as '(National) Defense Airspace' and says pilots who violate the restriction could be intercepted, detained and questioned by law enforcement. It warns that additional actions could be taken for pilots who don’t adhere to the restrictions, including suspension of flight certifications, criminal charges, and that the U.S. government 'may use deadly force' if an aircraft poses an 'imminent security threat.'"
Early Wednesday morning on CNN, Bob Moore — CEO of El Paso Matters — explained, "It's essentially a no-fly zone now that includes military aircraft medical evacuation helicopters, law enforcement, nothing. Nothing can fly. We've never seen anything like this here at least since. Since 9/11, when everything was grounded. The FAA is not talking. I was able to get through to an FAA official who actually was the one who put out the notice. And he said he couldn't even tell me what it was about, not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't know."