U.S. military used a laser to shoot down a Border Protection drone

"CBP did not notify the Defense Department that it was operating a drone in the area, so U.S. forces, suspecting a potential threat, used a laser system to disable it, a Pentagon official said, citing an initial assessment of the incident. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation."

"Military personnel "employed counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities to mitigate a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace," the statement said. "These agencies will continue to work on increased cooperation and communication to prevent such incidents in the future.""

"The Federal Aviation Administration closed airspace near the town of Fort Hancock on Thursday, citing unspecified "special security reasons" and setting an end date of June 24. It was the same reasoning given when air traffic was briefly halted at El Paso International Airport weeks ago after a counter-drone system was used."

The U.S. military fired a laser at a Customs and Border Protection drone near Fort Hancock, Texas, resulting in an FAA airspace closure through June 24. The incident occurred because CBP failed to notify the Defense Department about its drone operations in the area, causing military personnel to perceive the aircraft as a potential threat. This represents the second airspace closure along the Mexico border this month, following a similar incident at El Paso International Airport involving counter-drone systems. A joint statement from the Pentagon, FAA, and CBP acknowledged the engagement but did not assign responsibility or indicate plans for broader policy review. Officials emphasized the incident occurred away from populated areas with no commercial aircraft nearby and committed to improved inter-agency cooperation.

Read at The Washington Post