US Military Allegedly Downs CBP Drone with Laser

This is the second time this month that the FAA has shut down airspace near the US-Mexico border due to a drone-related incident. The US military accidentally downed a Customs and Border Protection drone near Fort Hancock, Texas, prompting the FAA to close the airspace in response, as reported by Reuters and The New York Times. Previously, airspace around El Paso International Airport was closed when a CBP anti-drone laser was used without FAA coordination, later found to be targeting a party balloon. The FAA, CBP, and Pentagon stated the military used counter-drone measures in military airspace, away from populated regions and without commercial aircraft nearby, causing a limited airspace closure without FAA consent, according to the Times. In a joint statement, Reps. Bennie Thompson, André Carson, and Rick Larsen criticized the White House for bypassing bipartisan legislation aimed at training Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems operators and improving coordination between the Pentagon, DHS, and FAA.