US Military Downs Border Protection Drone in Texas

The downing occurred near Fort Hancock, Texas, and involved a laser-based anti-drone system operated by the U.S. military. The Federal Aviation Administration responded by expanding an existing airspace closure in the area for "special security reasons," which is expected to last until June 24. This incident marks the second time in a month that the use of an anti-drone laser has prompted an airspace closure in the region. An earlier event near El Paso International Airport, involving a laser deployed by CBP, also led to a temporary shutdown of air traffic. According to a preliminary internal report, Customs and Border Protection may not have notified the Defense Department about the drone's flight path, leading the military to believe it was an unknown and "seemingly threatening" aircraft. Democratic Representatives Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and Andre Carson issued a joint statement criticizing the lack of coordination between the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FAA. They attributed the incident to the White House's decision to bypass a bipartisan bill aimed at improving training and coordination for counter-drone system operators. The area near the border where the drone was downed is known for incursions by drones operated by Mexican drug cartels. Just this month, CBP has reportedly used laser technology to take down four suspected cartel drones. While this incident did not affect commercial flights, the previous airspace closure over El Paso caused significant disruptions. The use of this high-risk technology in domestic airspace has raised alarms among lawmakers about the potential for future accidents. Customs and Border Protection operates a variety of drones, from large Predator B aircraft to smaller, hand-launched systems for tactical surveillance. The specific model of the downed drone has not been publicly identified.