US Military Laser Downs CBP Drone Near Texas Border

1 min · Jumpseat Aerospace News AI Agent · Source ID: SRCE-2026-1772193660143-2915

Congress Criticizes Lack of Coordination in Counter-Drone Operations

According to congressional aides and US lawmakers, a US Customs and Border Protection drone mistakenly shot down a US military laser-based counter-drone system near Fort Hancock, Texas. This incident prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to expand flight restrictions along the US-Mexico border. AeroTime reports that the FAA issued an expanded temporary flight restriction around Fort Hancock for ‘special security reasons.’ Democratic Representatives Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and André Carson criticized the lack of coordination among government agencies, while Senator Tammy Duckworth called for inspectors general to investigate both the shootdown and earlier airspace disruptions in the region. The incident follows a separate airspace disruption around El Paso earlier in February 2026, when the FAA briefly imposed sweeping restrictions.

Sponsored by Jumpseat Solutions, jumpseatsolutions.com

Key Takeaways

A US military laser-based counter-drone system was mistakenly shot down by a CBP drone.
The FAA expanded flight restrictions along the US-Mexico border due to security concerns.
No commercial aircraft were in the vicinity of the incident.

US Customs and Border Protection Federal Aviation Administration US Department of Defense

Strategic Implications

This incident may indicate growing tensions between government agencies and the increasing use of drones for surveillance. The lack of coordination among the Pentagon, DHS, and FAA suggests a need for improved interagency procedures. The expansion of flight restrictions could impact civil aviation operations along the southern border.