Texas Airspace Closed After Drone Downed
Texas briefly closed its airspace after the U.S. military shot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone. The unusual incident was reportedly prompted by unspecified security concerns. An investigation into the event is currently underway.
The friendly-fire incident occurred near Fort Hancock, Texas, a community situated on the U.S.-Mexico border approximately 50 miles southeast of El Paso. A U.S. official confirmed a laser weapon was used to down the drone, which the Department of Defense, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jointly stated was a "seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace." This marks the second time in a month that military activity involving anti-drone systems has led to airspace restrictions in the region. In early February, the FAA briefly closed airspace around El Paso International Airport due to a disagreement with the Pentagon over military drone tests near the adjacent Fort Bliss. That incident also involved a high-energy laser, which was reportedly used against what turned out to be a party balloon. In response to the drone downing, the FAA expanded an existing Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the Fort Hancock area for "Special Security Reasons." The restriction, which does not affect commercial flights, prohibits all aircraft operations from the surface up to 17,999 feet and is scheduled to remain in effect until June 24, 2026. The event drew sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and André Carson, who are senior members on committees overseeing transportation and homeland security. In a joint statement, they said, "Our heads are exploding over the news," and blamed the incident on a lack of coordination and the White House's decision to "sidestep" a bipartisan bill for training anti-drone operators. According to a preliminary internal report mentioned by The New York Times, the incident may have resulted from a communication breakdown, with CBP having failed to notify the Defense Department about its drone flight in the area. The region is known for incursions by drones operated by Mexican drug cartels, which use them for surveillance and smuggling. The joint agency statement following the shootdown emphasized that the engagement took place far from populated areas. The Pentagon, CBP, and FAA stated they would "continue to work on increased cooperation and communication to prevent such incidents in the future" as they collaborate to counter drone threats at the border.
