Aviation & SecurityA second anti-drone laser incident within two weeks has prompted another temporary airspace
restriction near El Paso, raising concerns among lawmakers about interagency coordination and air safety procedures.
According to US officials, the military used a counter-drone laser system to neutralize an unmanned aerial vehicle operating inside restricted military airspace.
Members of Congress later confirmed that the targeted drone belonged to US Customs and Border Protection.
Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily restricted parts of the surrounding airspace as a precaution.
Unlike a similar episode earlier this month, commercial flights were not significantly disrupted this time.Lawmakers Express AlarmSeveral Democratic lawmakers,
including Representative Rick Larsen, said they were surprised by the official notification of the laser deployment.
In a joint statement, they criticized what they described as poor coordination between federal agencies and questioned the administration’s handling of drone-related security measures.
The criticism follows a previous incident near Fort Bliss, where a military laser was reportedly fired without prior coordination with aviation authorities.
That earlier event resulted in a broader airspace shutdown over El Paso, leading to temporary flight cancellations.
Government ResponseIn a joint statement, the Pentagon, the FAA, and Customs and Border Protection defended the action,
describing it as a necessary response to what they called a “seemingly threatening” drone operating within military-designated airspace.
Officials stated that the operation occurred far from populated areas and commercial aircraft routes.
They also emphasized increased collaboration among agencies to prevent future disruptions.
The administration has linked heightened anti-drone measures to broader border security efforts along the US-Mexico frontier.
At the direction of President Donald Trump, federal agencies are reportedly intensifying efforts to counter drone threats allegedly connected to criminal cartels and foreign extremist groups.
Broader Concerns Over CoordinationThe earlier airspace closure lasted only a few hours but triggered concerns about communication breakdowns between defense and aviation authorities.
The incident revived debate in Congress over pending bipartisan legislation aimed at improving drone operator training and enhancing coordination among the Pentagon, Homeland Security, and aviation regulators.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated that lawmakers would be briefed on the matter, defending the FAA’s decision to restrict airspace as a safety precaution.
As drone-related security operations increase near sensitive border regions, federal agencies face mounting pressure to balance military preparedness with civilian aviation safety.
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