US military shoots down CBP drone

The US military used a laser  to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone, according to members of Congress, and the Federal Aviation Administration responded by closing more airspace near El Paso, Texas. Just over two weeks ago, the FAA shut down the El Paso airport and the surrounding area after another use of an anti-drone laser. This time, commercial flights are not affected by the expanded airspace closure over Fort Hancock.

Rep Rick Larsen and several other top Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee said they were notified through official channels. “Our heads are exploding over the news that DoD reportedly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a high risk counter-unmanned aircraft system,” Larsen and the other representatives wrote.