Military Downs CBP Drone with Laser in Texas Border Area

In Fort Hancock, Texas, the U.S. military shot down a drone operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection using a laser on Thursday, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to expand an airspace closure in the area near El Paso.

The incident marks the second such use of an anti-drone laser in the region within a short period. Just over two weeks earlier, the FAA temporarily shut down El Paso International Airport and surrounding airspace following a similar deployment of the technology. This time, the expanded restrictions over Fort Hancock do not impact commercial flights, according to FAA statements.

Lawmakers on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, including Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington, confirmed they were notified of the event through official channels. In a joint statement, they expressed alarm over the military's action against a federal agency's drone, describing it as the use of a high-risk counter-unmanned aircraft system. "Our heads are exploding over the news that DoD reportedly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a high risk counter-unmanned aircraft system," the representatives wrote.

The lawmakers attributed the mishap...