Photo: HERIKA MARTINEZ / AFP / Getty Images
The U.S. military accidentally shot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone using a high-energy laser anti-drone system near Fort Hancock, Texas, on Thursday (February 26), prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to close airspace in the area through June 23.
According to Reuters, congressional aides confirmed that the Pentagon deployed the laser system after mistaking the CBP drone for a threat. The incident took place along the U.S.-Mexico border, a region frequently targeted by drones operated by Mexican drug cartels. Fort Hancock sits about 40 miles east of El Paso.
In a joint statement, the Pentagon, FAA, and CBP said the military used a "counter-unmanned aircraft system ... to mitigate a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace." The agencies added that the incident "took place far away from populated areas and there were no commercial aircraft in the vicinity." They also said they "will continue to work on increased cooperation and communication to prevent such incidents in the future."
The FAA expanded an existing temporary flight restriction (TFR) around Fort Hancock to "include a greater radius to ensure safety." The agency classified the area as "NTL Defense Airspace" and warned that pilots who fail to comply "may be intercepted, detained, and interviewed by law enforcement/security personnel." El Paso International Airport was not affected and continued operating normally, according to city spokesperson Laura Cruz Acosta.
Rep. Rick Larsen, Rep. Bennie Thompson, and Rep. Andre Carson — top Democrats on committees overseeing aviation and homeland security — issued a joint statement condemning what they called a failure of coordination. "Our heads are exploding over the news," the trio said, adding, "Now, we're seeing the result of its incompetence." The lawmakers had previously warned that the White House's decision to bypass a bipartisan proposal to train counter-drone operators and improve agency coordination "was a short-sighted idea."
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the ranking Democrat on the Senate's Aviation Subcommittee, called the situation "alarming" and demanded a "thorough, independent" investigation. "The Trump administration's incompetence continues to cause chaos in our skies," Duckworth said. She called on the inspectors general of the departments of Defense, Transportation, and Homeland Security to launch a joint investigation.
According to The Hill, the Pentagon and CBP told congressional aides they believe they can deploy the laser systems without prior FAA approval — a position the FAA disputes. The agency is pressing for a full safety review of the laser technology and wants all further use halted until that review is complete.
This is the second time this month that the use of an anti-drone laser near the Texas border caused an airspace disruption. Earlier in February, chaos erupted over El Paso when the FAA abruptly ordered a 10-day airspace shutdown, only to reverse the order about eight hours later. That incident involved CBP firing the laser at what turned out to be a party balloon, not a cartel drone.
President Trump's administration defended its record in a joint agency statement, saying the administration "is doing more to secure the border and crack down on cartels than any administration in history." Government agencies are expected to brief lawmakers on both incidents as soon as next week.