The U.S. military successfully employed a laser to take down a drone perceived as a potential threat near the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday. Subsequent investigations revealed that the drone belonged to Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This incident led to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expanding the closure of airspace around Fort Hancock, Texas, located approximately 80 kilometers southeast of El Paso. The military is mandated to formally inform the FAA whenever it engages in counter-drone actions within U.S. airspace.
This marked the second instance within a fortnight where a laser was utilized in the region. The previous occurrence involved CBP using the laser near Fort Bliss without any resulting impact. As a result, the FAA had to halt air traffic at El Paso airport and its surroundings. However, the recent closure had a smaller impact, with commercial flights remaining unaffected.
The disclosure of this event to Washington U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and other key Democrats on House committees related to transportation, infrastructure, and homeland security left them astounded. In a joint statement, the lawmakers criticized the Trump administration for bypassing a bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing drone operator training and communication among the Pentagon, FAA, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees CBP.
In response, the FAA, CBP, and the Pentagon issued a joint statement late Thursday acknowledging the military’s use of counter-unmanned aircraft system measures to address a potential threat posed by an unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace. This action was taken far from populated areas and commercial flights as part of border protection initiatives.
The El Paso shutdown from two weeks ago, which lasted only a few hours, caused concern, prompting the FAA to consider a 10-day closure initially. This decision resulted in numerous flight cancellations in the city. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a ranking member on the Senate’s aviation subcommittee, called for an independent probe into the matter, emphasizing the need to address the chaos caused by the Trump administration’s actions in the skies.
The U.S. government recently allocated over $250 million to assist states in preparing to counter drone threats ahead of upcoming events like World Cup matches and the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Additional grants worth $250 million are set to be disbursed later this year to bolster national drone defense mechanisms. The use of anti-drone technology, including lasers, radio signals, and high-powered microwaves, has become crucial in mitigating drone-related risks, especially in border security operations.