The U.S. military employed a laser to disable a Customs and Border Protection drone, according to members of Congress on Thursday, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to expand airspace restrictions near El Paso, Texas.
It remains uncertain why the laser was used, but this marks the second instance in two weeks that a laser has been activated in the region. The U.S. military is obligated to officially inform the FAA whenever it conducts any counter-drone measures within U.S. airspace.
The initial laser fire did not strike a target. It occurred near Fort Bliss, approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) to the northwest, and caused the FAA to halt air traffic at El Paso airport and the surrounding region. This time, the shutdown was more limited, and commercial flights remained unaffected.
U.S. Representative Rick Larsen, along with two other senior Democrats from the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Security committees, expressed their shock.
“Our minds are overwhelmed by the news,” lawmakers stated in a joint release. They condemned the Trump administration for “avoiding” a bipartisan bill aimed at training drone operators and enhancing coordination between the Pentagon, FAA, and Department of Homeland Security.
“Now, we’re witnessing the outcome of its failure,” they stated.
The Department of Defense and Transportation directed inquiries to the FAA, which mentioned in a short statement that it had increased the restricted airspace near Fort Hancock. Customs and Border Protection did not promptly answer the questions.
The El Paso shutdown two weeks ago lasted just a few hours but caused concern and resulted in multiple flight cancellations in a city with almost 700,000 residents located near the Mexican border.
In such a scenario, an anti-drone laser was utilized by CBP close to Fort Bliss without consulting the FAA, leading the agency to shut down El Paso’s airspace to protect commercial aviation safety, as reported by individuals aware of the situation who were not permitted to speak about it.
Later, members of Congress stated that it seemed to be yet another instance of inefficiency within the government, as various agencies failed to work together.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy mentioned he intends to update members of Congress later this week regarding the incident. During a separate press event on Friday, he stated that the FAA’s decision to close the airspace over El Paso was not an error and that he does not believe a communication problem was responsible for the issues.
The inquiry regarding the midair crash last year near Washington, D.C., involving an airplane and an Army helicopter that resulted in 67 fatalities revealed that the FAA and the Pentagon did not consistently collaborate effectively.
The National Transportation Safety Board stated that the FAA and the Army did not exchange safety information regarding the rising number of near-misses near Reagan National Airport and neglected to tackle the associated dangers.
Two months back, Congress decided to grant additional law enforcement organizations — such as certain state and local departments — the ability to disable unauthorized drones provided they receive proper training. Before this, only a limited number of federal agencies held this authority.
Armed drones conduct destructive attacks every day in Ukraine and have enabled Ukraine to launch strikes deep into Russian territory. The U.S. government has provided over $250 million to assist states in preparing for drone threats ahead of World Cup events and festivities scheduled this summer to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary.
An additional $250 million in funding will be given this year to enhance the country’s drone security measures.
Drones are already creating issues along the border. Drug cartels frequently utilize drones to transport narcotics across the Mexican border and monitor Border Patrol agents. Officials informed Congress last summer that over 27,000 drones were identified within 1,600 feet of the southern border during the final six months of 2024.
The risk posed to aircraft by drones is becoming more significant as the frequency of close encounters near airports rises. The Department of Homeland Security reports that over 1.7 million registered drones are in operation across the United States, with this figure continuing to rise.
Anti-drone systems may employ radio signals to interfere with drones, orhigh-energy microwaves or laser beamsLike the ones utilized in Texas that can disable the machines. Some deploy small drones to quickly take flight and collide with hostile drones. There are also systems that use bullets, but these are more frequently found on battlefields rather than in domestic settings.
READ MORE:The U.S. military employed a laser to disable a Border Protection drone, according to lawmakers.
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