Texas Airspace Closed After CBP Drone Shot Down
Military authorities in Texas temporarily closed airspace after a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone was shot down. The incident has prompted calls from lawmakers for clarity on the circumstances and security implications. It also highlights ongoing debates surrounding the use of drones in border surveillance and airspace safety.
The drone, operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was shot down by the U.S. military over Fort Hancock, a community on the U.S.-Mexico border. A high-energy laser weapon was used to down the unmanned aircraft, which the Defense Department deemed a "seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace." This marks the second time in February 2026 that the use of anti-drone systems has led to airspace restrictions in the region. Just over two weeks prior, the FAA temporarily closed airspace around El Paso following the use of an anti-drone laser by CBP in response to a suspected Mexican cartel drone, which turned out to be a party balloon. Democratic Representatives Rick Larsen, André Carson, and Bennie Thompson, all members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, issued a joint statement expressing their frustration. They stated, "Our heads are exploding over the news that DoD reportedly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a high risk counter-unmanned aircraft system." The lawmakers attributed the incident to a "lack of coordination" between the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FAA. They argued that the White House's decision to bypass a bipartisan bill aimed at properly training operators of counter-unmanned aircraft systems contributed to what they termed "incompetence." The airspace closure over Fort Hancock was issued for "Special Security Reasons" but did not impact commercial flights. According to a preliminary internal report, the incident may have stemmed from a failure by CBP to notify the Defense Department about the drone's flight path. CBP operates a fleet of drones, including the MQ-9 Predator B, for missions such as surveillance, reconnaissance, and tracking of illegal border crossings and contraband. The agency has more than 135 smaller drone systems in use and plans to expand its fleet. The use of drones by Mexican cartels for surveillance and smuggling is a frequent occurrence along the southern border. In the last six months of 2024, over 27,000 drone incursions were detected within 500 meters of the border. This has prompted increased use of counter-drone measures by U.S. agencies.
