Second US drone laser incident this month prompts Texas airspace closure

"The military is required to formally notify the FAA anytime it takes any counter-drone action inside US airspace. The earlier laser firing did not hit a target. It was carried out by the CBP near Fort Bliss, about 80km (50 miles) to the northwest, prompting the FAA to shut down air traffic at El Paso airport and the surrounding area."

"US Representative 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 criticised the Trump administration for sidestepping a bipartisan bill to train drone operators and improve communication."

"The Pentagon, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Customs and Border Protection issued a statement saying the military used a counter-unmanned aircraft system to mitigate a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace. The statement added that the incident took place far away from populated areas and there were no commercial aircraft in the vicinity."

The U.S. military used a laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection drone near El Paso, Texas, leading the FAA to close airspace in the region. This was the second laser deployment in two weeks in the area. The military is required to formally notify the FAA of counter-drone actions within U.S. airspace. Congressional Democrats criticized the incident, expressing concern about the Trump administration's failure to implement a bipartisan bill aimed at training drone operators and improving communication between the Pentagon, FAA, and Department of Homeland Security. The Pentagon, FAA, and CBP stated the laser was used to counter a threatening unmanned aircraft system operating within military airspace, occurring in an unpopulated area with no commercial aircraft nearby. The agencies committed to improving cooperation and communication.

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