The U.S. military used a laser Thursday to shoot down a drone near the U.S.-Mexico border, only to later discover it belonged to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), officials said. The incident prompted a temporary closure of airspace near Fort Hancock, about 50 miles southeast of El Paso, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinated safety measures.
This is the second laser-related airspace shutdown in the region in two weeks. A prior incident near Fort Bliss involved a CBP laser that hit nothing but still forced the FAA to suspend flights in the El Paso area. Thursday’s closure was smaller and did not affect commercial flights.
Lawmakers expressed alarm over the mix-up. U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and other Democratic leaders on the House Transportation and Homeland Security committees called it a direct result of insufficient coordination between the Pentagon, FAA, and CBP. “Our heads are exploding over the news,” they said, criticizing the Trump administration for bypassing a bipartisan bill aimed at improving drone operator training and inter-agency communication.
The FAA, CBP, and Pentagon issued a joint statement acknowledging the military used counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities to neutralize what was perceived as a “seemingly threatening” drone. They emphasized that the action occurred far from populated areas and commercial flights, as part of efforts to strengthen U.S. border security.
“At President Trump’s direction, the Department of War, FAA, and Customs and Border Patrol are working together to mitigate drone threats posed by Mexican cartels and foreign terrorist organizations at the U.S.-Mexico Border,” the statement said.
The recent incidents have reignited concerns about inter-agency coordination and public safety. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he plans to brief Congress and maintained that the FAA’s temporary closure of El Paso airspace was appropriate.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, ranking member of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, called for an independent investigation, citing past failures highlighted by last year’s midair collision near Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people. She said the recent laser mishap demonstrates continuing risks due to lack of coordination between the FAA and Pentagon.
Concerns over rogue drones are growing. Recent legislation has expanded the authority of federal, state, and local agencies to intercept drones, provided personnel receive proper training. The U.S. has allocated over $250 million to help states strengthen drone defenses ahead of upcoming major events, including World Cup matches and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, with another $250 million in grants planned later this year.
