Lawmakers criticise mismanagement after El Paso airspace closure following navy’s anti-drone laser deployment.
Printed On 27 Feb 2026
The USA navy used a laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Safety drone, members of Congress stated, and the Federal Aviation Administration responded by closing extra airspace close to El Paso, Texas.
It isn’t clear why the laser was deployed, however it’s the second time in two weeks that one has been fired within the space. The navy is required to formally notify the FAA anytime it takes any counter-drone motion inside US airspace.
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The sooner laser firing didn’t hit a goal. It was carried out by the CBP close to Fort Bliss, about 80km (50 miles) to the northwest, prompting the FAA to close down air site visitors at El Paso airport and the encompassing space. This time, the closure was smaller and industrial flights weren’t affected.
US Consultant Rick Larsen and two different prime Democrats on the Home Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Safety committees stated they had been shocked once they had been formally notified.
“Our heads are exploding over the information,” the lawmakers stated in a joint assertion. They criticised the Trump administration for “sidestepping” a bipartisan invoice to coach drone operators and enhance communication among the many Pentagon, FAA and Division of Homeland Safety.
“Now, we’re seeing the results of its incompetence,” they stated.
Authorities defends use of anti-drone laser
The Pentagon, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Customs and Border Safety issued a press release saying the navy used a “counter-unmanned plane system … to mitigate a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system working inside navy airspace”.
The assertion added that the incident “came about far-off from populated areas and there have been no industrial plane within the neighborhood. These companies will proceed to work on elevated cooperation and communication to stop such incidents sooner or later.
“At President Trump’s route, the Division of Struggle, FAA, and Customs and Border Patrol are working collectively in an unprecedented vogue to mitigate drone threats by Mexican cartels and international terrorist organisations on the US-Mexico Border,” the assertion stated. “The underside line is the Trump Administration is doing extra to safe the border and crack down on cartels than any administration in historical past.”
Second Texas airspace shut down this month
The El Paso shutdown two weeks in the past lasted only some hours, nevertheless it raised alarm and led to a number of flight cancellations within the metropolis of practically 700,000 individuals not removed from the Mexican border.
In that case, CBP deployed an anti-drone laser close to Fort Bliss with out coordinating with the FAA, which then determined to shut El Paso airspace to make sure industrial air security, in keeping with sources accustomed to what occurred who weren’t authorised to debate it.
Afterwards, members of Congress stated it gave the impression to be one other instance of presidency dysfunction, with totally different companies failing to coordinate.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated he was planning to temporary members of Congress someday this week about what occurred. He stated at an unrelated information convention final Friday that it was not a mistake for the FAA to shut the airspace over El Paso and that he doesn’t assume a communication concern brought on the issues.
Lawmaker calls for an investigation
Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, the rating member on the Senate’s Aviation Subcommittee, stated this incident calls for unbiased investigations.
“The Trump administration’s incompetence continues to trigger chaos in our skies,” Duckworth stated.
The investigation into final yr’s midair collision close to Washington, DC, between an airliner and an Army helicopter that killed 67 individuals highlighted how the FAA and Pentagon weren’t at all times working effectively collectively.
The Nationwide Transportation Security Board stated the FAA and the Military didn’t share security information on the alarming variety of shut calls round Reagan Nationwide Airport and failed to handle the dangers.
