Second US drone laser incident this month prompts Texas airspace closure

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by By AP and ReutersFebruary 27, 2026 at 03:26 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

The US military used a laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection drone near Fort Bliss, Texas, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to close airspace over El Paso. This is the second time in two weeks that a laser has been fired in the area. The earlier incident did not hit a target, while this one was carried out by CBP and resulted in a smaller airspace closure with no commercial flights affected. Lawmakers criticized the Trump administration for "sidestepping" a bipartisan bill to train drone operators and improve communication among agencies. The Pentagon, FAA, and Customs and Border Protection defended the use of the anti-drone laser as a necessary measure to mitigate a perceived threat within military airspace. The incident occurred on February 27, 2026.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Trump administration 50% Rick Larsen 60% Fort Bliss 60% Pentagon ×260% Customs and Border Protection ×370% Texas 70% El Paso ×480% Federal Aviation Administration ×380% United States 90%

Keywords

drone laser incident 90% anti-drone laser 80% airspace closure 80% federal aviation administration 70% unmanned aerial system 60% customs and border protection 60% military 50% counter-drone action 50% el paso 50%