The US military accidentally shot down a Customs and Border Protection surveillance drone along the Texas Mexico border using a high energy laser system, triggering new airspace restrictions near Fort Hancock and sharp criticism from lawmakers who say the incident was preventable.
According to congressional officials and people familiar with the matter, the Pentagon did not realize the aircraft belonged to CBP. CBP had not informed the Department of Defense of its flight operations in the area, and neither agency coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration before the engagement. The FAA was notified after the drone was destroyed and responded by expanding a temporary flight restriction around Fort Hancock shortly after 4:30 p.m. Mountain time. Commercial flights were not affected due to the area’s distance from El Paso.
The incident marks the second deployment of an anti drone laser system in the region in less than two weeks. On February 11, a separate laser engagement near Fort Bliss targeted what later turned out to be party balloons, prompting the FAA to shut down El Paso International Airport for nearly eight hours and causing widespread flight disruptions. A safety review was initiated after that episode, but officials said it had not concluded before the Fort Hancock incident occurred.
Both events are believed to involve the LOCUST system, a road mobile directed energy weapon equipped with a roughly 20 kilowatt class laser and onboard electro optical and infrared sensors. The system is designed to counter small drones, including those used by cartels for surveillance and smuggling coordination along the southern border.
In a joint statement, the Department of Defense, CBP, and the FAA acknowledged the engagement but did not confirm that the aircraft destroyed was a CBP drone or identify the weapon system used. The agencies said the drone was perceived as a threat within military airspace and emphasized that the incident occurred far from populated areas.
Lawmakers reacted swiftly. Senior Democrats overseeing aviation and homeland security committees said the shootdown underscored the consequences of failing to establish mandatory coordination and training rules for counter drone operations. Senator Tammy Duckworth called for independent investigations, citing growing risks to civilian airspace.
The FAA has listed the Fort Hancock flight restriction as remaining in place through June 24. The incident adds to broader concerns about interagency coordination, already under scrutiny following previous military aviation safety failures near civilian airspace.
The friendly-fire incident near Fort Hancock is the second laser-related airspace emergency along the Texas border in two weeks.
