"The military is required to formally notify the FAA anytime it takes any counter-drone action inside U.S. airspace. The earlier laser firing did not hit a target. It was done by the CBP near Fort Bliss, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest, and prompted the FAA to shut down air traffic at El Paso airport and the surrounding area."
"U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and two other top Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Security committees said they were stunned when they were officially notified. 'Our heads are exploding over the news,' the lawmakers said in a joint statement. They criticized the Trump administration for 'sidestepping' a bipartisan bill to train drone operators and improve communication among the Pentagon, FAA and Department of Homeland Security."
"In that case, an anti-drone laser was deployed by CBP near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA, which then decided to close the El Paso airspace to ensure commercial air safety, according to sources familiar with what happened who weren't authorized to discuss it."
The U.S. military deployed a laser weapon to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection drone near El Paso, Texas, leading the FAA to expand airspace closures in the region. This incident represents the second laser firing in two weeks in the area. Military regulations require formal notification to the FAA for any counter-drone actions within U.S. airspace. Congressional Democrats expressed alarm at the lack of coordination, criticizing the Trump administration for failing to implement a bipartisan bill designed to improve communication between the Pentagon, FAA, and Department of Homeland Security. The earlier laser incident near Fort Bliss had also prompted significant airspace closures and flight cancellations in the El Paso area.
#military-laser-weapons #drone-interdiction #faa-airspace-closures #interagency-coordination-failures #border-security-operations
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