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U.S. military laser struck a CBP drone near Fort Hancock, Texas, prompting FAA airspace closures

Lawmakers and a congressional briefing confirmed the U.S. military used a laser-based counter‑drone system to make contact with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection drone near Fort Hancock, Texas. The incident prompted the FAA to expand flight restrictions and temporarily close nearby El Paso airspace while agencies investigate.

Discovered 2026-02-26T17:31:18.147727-08:00 | 2026-02-26T17:31:18.147727-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The strike involved a U.S. government aircraft (a CBP drone) and triggered FAA action to expand flight restrictions and temporarily close airspace, creating immediate operational and safety implications for regional air traffic control and commercial operations.
  • A congressional briefing and joint agency statements have confirmed military contact with the drone, elevating oversight and regulatory scrutiny over domestic use of military counter‑drone systems and interagency coordination.
  • This episode follows earlier El Paso-area disruptions tied to deployment of a counter‑drone laser and communication breakdowns between agencies, providing important context on persistent civil–military coordination gaps [source:8b70096c-d989-48e1-afe7-700f22f98846] and the prior FAA–Pentagon standoff that led to a prolonged closure [source:e4a65b98-d831-42b2-afce-2ea85df61461].

Reported By

Aero-News news.defcros.com uasvision.com Simple Flying Wall Street Journal The Hill
Sources Tracked
38
First Seen
2026-02-26T17:31:18.147727-08:00
Latest Update
2026-03-05T02:15:13.958346-08:00
Coverage
Aviation

Sources

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