>> What kind of government would use their statutory authority to shut down an airport when there is a risk to the planes?

It could be either an incompetent government or an authoritarian government that is trying to militarize certain institutions of civilian life.

>> Why do you think the FAA doesn't have this authority? Or, why do you think the FAA shouldn't have this authority?

The FAA does indeed have the authority. The question is simply: why did the FAA choose to exercise its authority in this case? If there was a real danger to the public, then the FAA should be honest with the people and tell them what is the danger. That is what citizens should expect from a democratic government.

>> This may have been needed but poorly executed; this may have been incompetent planning and response. But I wouldn't call the FAA shutting down an airport "police state".

The reason why I ask if this is an example of police state behavior is because in this case the government apparently took drastic measures without explaining to the people why it was doing so.