This Thursday, the U.S. Army shot down with an anti-drone laser system an unmanned aircraft, or drone, that turned out to belong to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection(CBP) near Fort Hancock (Texas), about 80 kilometers southeast of El Paso, according to federal sources.
The drone was initially identified at the Mexican border as a possible threat in restricted airspace, which led to the activation of the defense system.It was later confirmed to belong to CBP, which has raised questions about coordination between federal agencies.
FAA closes airspace, criticism grows after incident
U.S. Army shot down a threatening drone that turned out to be Border Patrol https://t.co/E2Oo6B3Wnc
– Aristegui Noticias (@AristeguiOnline) February 27, 2026
Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered the temporary closure of a portion of the airspace in the area for safety reasons.
Although no commercial flights were reported to be affected.
It was confirmed that it belonged to CBP
QuéOnnda.com
The event comes weeks after another episode related to the use of anti-drone technology in the border area.
This has provoked criticism from some legislators who are demanding explanations and greater clarity on the protocols for identification and response to unmanned aircraft.
So far, the authorities have not reported any additional damages or possible disciplinary measures resulting from the incident (Filed as: U.S. Army shoots down drone).
With information from EFE
Anti-drone system activated in Arizona for unidentified official aircraft
Weeks before the Texas incident, federal authorities activated a drone defense protocol in Arizona.
This after detecting an unmanned aircraft entering restricted airspace near border facilities.
At first, the device was listed as a possible threat.
This led to the mobilization of security teams and temporary airspace restrictions by the FAA.
Hours later it was confirmed that the drone belonged to a government agency conducting surveillance in the area.
This raised questions about the coordination and notification mechanisms between federal agencies.
The episode prompted calls from legislators to review protocols for identifying official aircraft in highly sensitive areas (Filed as: U.S. Army shoots down drone).
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
