US EditionDept. of Defense shoots down Customs and Border Protection drone near El Paso: Officials
The Pentagon's accidental drone shootdown using a laser system near the U.S.-Mexico border led the FAA to expand flight restrictions over Fort Hancock for safety reasons.
- Members of Congress said the U.S. military used a laser Thursday to shoot down a CBP drone near the Mexican border, and the FAA closed airspace near El Paso, Texas.
- U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson and Andre Carson said they were notified through official channels and criticized a lack of coordination among the Pentagon, DHS and FAA after months of ignored training warnings.
- The FAA said it expanded an existing airspace closure over Fort Hancock Thursday evening, barring flights while commercial flights remain unaffected.
- The FAA says flight restrictions near the border will last until June 24, 2026, while the Department of Defense, Customs and Border Patrol, and FAA did not immediately respond to questions.
- Reporting by Reuters found that the FAA had agreed to drop restrictions around El Paso if the Pentagon delayed further testing pending an FAA safety review, amid recent safety concerns.
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Congress members say the US military shot down Border Protection drone over Texas
Three lawmakers said the Customs and Border Protection drone was shot down by a "high risk" counter-drone system.Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesThree Democratic lawmakers say the US military shot down a Border Protection Drone on Thursday.They said it was a "high-risk" counter-drone system, which often refers to anti-drone lasers.The FAA expanded an airspace closure in the area, but said commercial flights wouldn't be affected.The US military shot down …
US military shot down border patrol drone with laser in Texas, lawmakers say
The U.S. military shot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone with a laser in Texas on Thursday, according to Democratic lawmakers, prompting the closure of airspace near the U.S.-Mexico border. Democratic Reps. Rick Larsen (Wash.), Bennie Thompson (Miss.) and Andre Carson (Ind.) said in a joint statement Thursday evening that the Pentagon reportedly shot down…
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