Aviation Daily Brief - February 12, 2026

El Paso Airspace Closure Fiasco

• The FAA issued a rare 10-day grounding of all flights to/from El Paso International Airport (ELP) on February 11, later rescinded within hours.
• The grounding was triggered by military actions at Fort Bliss, where a party balloon was mistakenly identified as a drone threat, compounded by uncoordinated laser testing.
• FAA chief Bryan Bedford ordered the grounding without prior notification to the White House, Pentagon, or DHS.
• Transportation Secretary Duffy confirmed the "neutralization" of the supposed drone threat.
• The incident led to mass cancellations affecting over 175,000 flights and delayed critical deliveries, sparking public outrage over communication failures.
• Calls for resignations from FAA, Transportation, and DHS officials have emerged, alongside congressional investigations.
• Political backlash includes accusations against the Trump administration for misleading the public.
• Key posts on social media include updates from @wavenewsnet, @jimgeraghty, and @ConsensusGurus.

Air India Flight 171 Crash Probe Update

• An investigation into the crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad suggests an intentional act, with reports indicating the pilot manually shut off fuel switches, leading to engine failure shortly after takeoff.
• The AAIB is continuing its investigation, with allegations of safety defects in the aircraft's history.
• Political speculation in India surrounds potential cover-ups related to pilot actions or leadership changes.
• Key posts include insights from @pdtbhimsenjoshi and @SanatanPrabhat/@JournoAshutosh.

UK Norwich Airport Disruptions

• Flights at Norwich Airport have been canceled amid disruptions, with automated messages sent to passengers.
• The specific cause of the disruptions remains unclear, with speculation about weather or technical issues.
• Local impact only reported.
• Key post from @MirrorBreaking_ links to further details on Mirror.co.uk.

Other Mentions

• Bird strike reported on an A320 at Belfast.
• Nigerian flight experienced engine loss and diversion.
• Routine NOTAMs issued, including preparations for India's GSLV launch.

No major crashes or global incidents reported, with the El Paso situation dominating headlines due to its rarity and political implications.