Military Downs Border Drone in Texas
Texas airspace was temporarily closed after the U.S. military downed a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone. Lawmakers have called for a full investigation into the circumstances of the incident. The event has intensified debates over border security, surveillance, and the use of unmanned systems in domestic airspace.
The drone was downed near Fort Hancock, Texas, by a laser-based anti-drone system operated by the U.S. military. The military reportedly mistook the Customs and Border Protection drone for a threat. This incident marks the second time in two weeks that the use of a high-energy laser against a drone has led to airspace disruptions in the region. In a previous event near El Paso, a similar system was used on what was later identified as a party balloon, initially mistaken for a Mexican drug cartel drone. Following the downing, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closed the airspace around Fort Hancock. However, unlike the earlier incident in El Paso, commercial flights were not affected by this closure. The flight restrictions in the area are scheduled to remain in place until June 24, 2026. Democratic members of Congress, including Representatives Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and André Carson, reacted with outrage, calling the incident a result of "incompetence" and a lack of coordination between the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FAA. In a joint statement, the Pentagon, CBP, and FAA confirmed that a "counter-unmanned aircraft system" was used to "mitigate a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace." The agencies stated they are working on improving cooperation and communication. The area near the U.S.-Mexico border is a known corridor for smuggling activities, and drones are sometimes used by drug cartels. This event has intensified the debate around the domestic use of anti-drone technologies and the protocols for their deployment.
