US Military Downs Border Drone Over Texas
Texas airspace was temporarily closed after U.S. military forces downed a Customs and Border Protection drone. The incident has prompted lawmakers to call for more details and has renewed debate over the use of government drones for domestic surveillance. The downing represents a rare escalation and may lead to a review of operating protocols between federal and military agencies.
The downing of the Customs and Border Protection drone occurred over Fort Hancock, Texas, and was the result of a laser weapon fired by the U.S. military. This friendly fire incident prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to expand an existing airspace closure in the region for "special security reasons," though commercial flights were not affected. A preliminary internal report suggested that CBP may not have notified the Defense Department about the drone's flight path, leading the military to mistake it for a threat. This event marks the second time in a matter of weeks that anti-drone systems have been activated in the area. Just over two weeks prior, the FAA temporarily shut down the El Paso International Airport after a counter-drone laser was used. In that instance, what was initially suspected to be a "cartel drone" was later reported to have been a mylar party balloon. Democratic members of the House committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Security issued a sharp rebuke, stating, "Our heads are exploding over the news." The lawmakers criticized the White House for what they described as sidestepping a bipartisan bill aimed at improving training and coordination for operators of counter-unmanned aircraft systems. In a joint statement, the Pentagon, CBP, and FAA acknowledged that the military "employed counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities to mitigate a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace." The agencies stated the engagement happened far from populated areas and that they are working to improve coordination to prevent future incidents. CBP operates a fleet of drones, including the military-grade MQ-9 Predator B, primarily for surveillance and reconnaissance along U.S. borders to detect illegal crossings and the movement of illicit goods. These drones are a key component of the agency's "virtual border fence" and can be equipped with sophisticated cameras and surveillance systems. The drone program has been active since its initial testing in 2004.
