Military Downs Border Drone Over Texas
The U.S. military shot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone, leading to the temporary closure of airspace in Texas. Lawmakers are demanding an explanation for the incident. The event highlights the growing risks of miscommunication and accidental engagement as unmanned systems become more common in border security operations.
The shootdown occurred near Fort Hancock, a Texas community on the U.S.-Mexico border, when the Department of Defense utilized a laser weapon system to down the drone. In a joint statement, the Defense Department, CBP, and the FAA stated the military was employing "counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities to mitigate a seemingly threatening" aircraft in 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. In an earlier incident, a CBP laser system was deployed against what was suspected to be a Mexican drug cartel drone, which later turned out to be a party balloon. That event led to a 10-day, then shortened to eight-hour, shutdown of airspace around El Paso International Airport. Democratic Representatives Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and André Carson, who serve on committees overseeing transportation and homeland security, issued a joint statement expressing their frustration. "Our heads are exploding over the news," they wrote, blaming the incident on the administration's decision to "sidestep a bipartisan, tri-committee bill" aimed at improving training and coordination for counter-drone systems. The airspace closure around Fort Hancock following the friendly-fire incident was smaller than the one in El Paso and did not affect commercial flights. The FAA confirmed it expanded existing flight restrictions in the area for "special security reasons." CBP has been utilizing unmanned aircraft systems, specifically the MQ-9 Predator B, for border surveillance since 2005. The agency's drone program has expanded significantly, logging over 11,000 flight hours in fiscal year 2022 to detect illegal cross-border activity.
