Washington —The US military used an anti-drone laser system to shoot down a unmanned aircraft operated by US Customs and Border Protection in Texas, according to congressional representatives. The incident comes just weeks after use of a laser system near El Paso led to confusion and exposed communication lapses among several US agencies. The move effectively shut down El Paso airport, but was reversed after about eight hours. The use of the system near the city came before the FAA and Pentagon met to review potential impacts and mitigation measures. But the Defense Department sought to use the system sooner around El Paso, prompting the FAA to impose the temporary flight restriction.

Source: CNN February 27, 2026 15:34 UTC