Texas airspace closed after military reportedly downs US drone on accident

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Guardian staff and agenciesFebruary 27, 2026 at 02:49 AM

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The FAA closed airspace near Fort Hancock, Texas, on Thursday evening due to "special security reasons." Congressional aides reported to Reuters that a military laser-based anti-drone system accidentally shot down a US government drone. The airspace restriction is in effect until June 24. House Democrats expressed concern, stating they were "stunned" by the news and cited a lack of coordination between the Pentagon, DHS, and FAA. They also noted a previous incident earlier in June where the FAA halted traffic at the El Paso airport due to concerns about the use of a laser-based anti-drone system.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

El Paso 50% Rick Larsen 50% André Carson 50% Bennie Thompson 50% Department of Homeland Security 50% Mexican border 60% Reuters ×260% Customs and Border Protection 60% Fort Hancock ×270% Pentagon ×380% Texas ×390% Federal Aviation Administration ×590%

Keywords

us drone 90% anti-drone system 80% airspace closure 80% laser weapon 70% texas 60% federal aviation administration 60% fort hancock 60% border security 50% counter-unmanned aircraft system 50% pentagon 40%