US Military Laser Downs Border Drone — But It Was America’s Own

Near Fort Hancock, Texas, a high-energy laser lit up the sky and then zapped the wrong drone. Congress says the U.S. military laser system shot down what it believed was a threatening unmanned aircraft near the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday. But as it turned out, the drone belonged to Customs and Border Protection or CBP. To that, a lawmaker said, “Our heads are exploding.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) then closed the extra airspace around Fort Hancock, which is 50 miles southeast of El Paso. Unlike a similar incident that happened two weeks ago, this closure did not disrupt commercial airline traffic. Yet it was the second time in recent weeks that such a laser technology has led to aviation restrictions in the area. According to a joint statement from the FAA, the Pentagon and CBP, the military used a “counter-unmanned aircraft system authority” to mitigate a threatening drone operating in military airspace. Officials said the incident occurred far from populated areas and commercial flight paths, but lawmakers weren’t too convinced by this explanation.

BREAKING: The Pentagon let Customs and Border Protection use an anti-drone laser before the FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say. https://t.co/T3F2pDAiZk

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 12, 2026

Three senior Democrats, including Rep. Rick Larsen, were blindsided when notified of what had happened. They accused the Donald Trump administration in a joint statement. They said he has sidestepped bipartisan legislation meant to improve its operator training and interagency communication between the Pentagon, the FAA and the Department of Homeland Security. “Now, we’re seeing the result of its incompetence,” they said. In February itself, there was another airspace shutdown at El Paso International Airport. At the time, CBP deployed an anti-drone laser near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA. That shutdown grounded and canceled flights for hours. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later defended the FAA’s decision to close the airspace. Meanwhile, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth (who is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Aviation Subcommittee) called for an independent investigation into the administration’s handling of drone defense, which she says continues to “cause chaos in our skies.” Plus, sources told CBS News that earlier laser tests in the region targeted foreign drones, but at least one turned out to be a party balloon. One cartel drone was reportedly disabled during recent operations, though officials have not released details. The Pentagon had been planning laser tests near Fort Bliss for months and says they have the authority under U.S. Code 130i to protect certain facilities from unmanned aircraft. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford briefly restricted flights below 18,000 feet with a NOTAM that warned violators could be shot down. Such language has not been used since the 9/11-era groundings.

Yesterday, DHS used a high energy laser, loaned to them by Pete Hegseth, to shoot down a party balloon, causing the FAA to shut down air space over El Paso.

Just a day later, we have two Navy ships colliding. Thank you, Pete Hegseth, for exceeding our expectations. https://t.co/6PXuovFV0t — Turnbull (@cturnbull1968) February 12, 2026

According to Homeland Security, there are more than 1.7 million registered drones in the United States. Officials told Congress that more than 27,000 drones were within 1,600 feet of the southern border in six months in 2024. Also, cartels use drones to move drugs and survey Border Patrol agents. Two months ago, Congress allowed more law enforcement agencies to take down rogue drones, provided they are properly trained. The federal government has also allocated $250 million to help states prepare for such threats before the World Cup matches and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Another $250 million is expected later this year. Allied Pilots Association spokesman Capt. Dennis Tajer said he’s worried a passenger jet could collide with a drone. But if the U.S. can’t coordinate between agencies when testing its own defenses, what happens when a real threat arises?