Second US drone laser incident this month prompts Texas airspace closure

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.

The US military accidentally shot down a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone with a laser-based anti-drone system near Fort Hancock, Texas, prompting a temporary FAA flight restriction in the area. Congressional aides reported the incident, which occurred near the Mexican border. Lawmakers Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and Andre Carson criticized the lack of coordination between agencies, stating they had previously warned against the White House's decision to bypass a bipartisan counter-drone training proposal. The Pentagon, CBP, and the White House have not yet commented on the incident. The area is known for incursions by Mexican drug cartel drones.

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.