U.S. Military Downs Border Drone Over Texas
The U.S. military downed a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone over Texas, leading to a temporary airspace closure. Lawmakers are now seeking explanations for the incident. The event raises questions about inter-agency coordination and the rules governing the use of unmanned systems in domestic airspace.
The drone was downed by a laser weapon system near Fort Hancock, Texas. This action prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to close the airspace in the region to ensure safety. The airspace closure, initially established for "Special Security Reasons," is expected to remain in effect until June 24. According to a preliminary internal report, the incident was an accident, as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reportedly did not notify the Department of Defense about the drone's flight path. The military, believing it to be an unknown and potentially threatening aircraft, engaged it. This event occurred in a region known for drone incursions by drug cartels. Democratic Representatives Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and André Carson issued a joint statement expressing their shock, saying, "Our heads are exploding over the news." They criticized the White House for what they described as a failure to ensure proper training and coordination between the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FAA. This is the second time in a month that the use of anti-drone systems has led to airspace closures in Texas. Just two weeks prior, the FAA briefly shut down airspace around El Paso after CBP deployed a laser system. That earlier incident reportedly involved the military targeting what turned out to be a mylar party balloon, which was mistaken for a "cartel drone."
