US Military Downs Border Protection Drone
The U.S. military shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone over Texas, leading to a temporary airspace closure. The unusual incident has prompted lawmakers to call for an investigation to determine the cause, which could range from a technical malfunction to an operational misunderstanding. The event highlights the growing complexity of managing domestic airspace amid increasing border security and military operations.
The drone was downed by a high-energy laser weapon operated by the U.S. military near Fort Hancock, Texas. This prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to close the airspace in the area for "special security reasons," though commercial flights were not impacted. This is the second time in a month that anti-drone laser use has caused airspace closures in the region. Just two weeks prior, a CBP-operated laser prompted a shutdown of the El Paso airport, about 50 miles from the current incident, after it was used in response to a suspected cartel drone incursion. Key Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and André Carson, expressed outrage, stating, “Our heads are exploding over the news." They blame the incident on the White House sidestepping a bipartisan bill for better training and coordination between the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, and the FAA. A preliminary internal report suggests Customs and Border Protection may not have notified the Defense Department about its drone flight in the area. In a joint statement, the Pentagon, CBP, and FAA said the military engaged a "seemingly threatening" aircraft. CBP operates a fleet of drones, including the Predator B, for surveillance along the nearly 6,000 miles of land border and 95,000 miles of shoreline. These unmanned aircraft are used to detect illegal crossings and track drug trafficking operations in remote or high-risk areas. The incident occurs amid heightened military and law enforcement activity in Texas under Operation Lone Star, a state-led initiative to counter illegal immigration and drug smuggling. This operation involves thousands of Texas National Guard members and Department of Public Safety officers. Drug cartels frequently use drones to surveil Border Patrol officers and transport drugs across the border. In the last six months of 2024 alone, officials detected over 27,000 drone flights within 1,600 feet of the southern border.
