The U.S. military reportedly used a laser to bring down a Customs and Border Protection drone near El Paso, Texas, according to members of Congress. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closed off more airspace in the area.
Although the reason for deploying the laser remains unclear, this incident marks the second time in two weeks that such an action has been taken in the region. Any counter-drone action within U.S. airspace requires formal notification to the FAA by the military.
The previous laser firing by CBP near Fort Bliss did not hit its target, resulting in the closure of air traffic in the El Paso area. This time, the airspace closure was smaller, and commercial flights were not affected.
Members of Congress, including U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, expressed shock upon receiving official notification of the incident. They criticized the lack of coordination between agencies and the failure to implement bipartisan measures for drone operator training and communication improvement.
The Defense and Transportation departments referred inquiries to the FAA, which announced an expanded airspace closure around Fort Hancock. Border Protection did not provide immediate responses to questions.
Following the El Paso shutdown two weeks ago, which lasted a few hours and led to flight cancellations, concerns were raised about coordination among government agencies. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the closure was not a mistake and denied any communication issues.
Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth called for independent investigations into the alarming situation, attributing it to the Trump administration’s incompetence. This incident reflects a larger issue of agencies failing to work together effectively.
In a related development, Congress recently authorized more law enforcement agencies to take down rogue drones, with additional funding allocated for strengthening drone defenses nationwide.
Drones pose a significant threat along the border, with cartels using them for illicit activities. Concerns about drone interference with air traffic safety continue to grow, prompting the implementation of anti-drone systems using various technologies.
