FAA closes Fort Hancock airspace, Texas reports accidental laser use
A drone flies past a U.S. government surveillance tower near the U.S.-Mexico border on Sept. 27, 2022 in Yuma, Arizona.
John Moore | Getty Images News | Getty Images
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) barred flights on Thursday in an area around Fort Hancock, Texas, after lawmakers said a military laser-based anti-drone system was believed to have been used by the Pentagon to accidentally shoot down a U.S. government drone.
The FAA and Pentagon did not immediately comment, but the FAA cited “special security reasons” in its notice about the restrictions on the airspace near the Mexican border.
U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson and Andre Carson, top Democrats on committees overseeing aviation and Homeland Security issues, said in a joint statement the Pentagon reportedly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone (CBP), and criticized the lack of coordination.
Congressional aides told Reuters the Pentagon was believed to have used the high-energy laser system to accidentally shoot down the CBP drone near the Mexican border, in an area that often has incursions from Mexican drones used by drug cartels. CBP and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In February, the FAA said it was halting traffic for 10 days at the airport in nearby El Paso, Texas, only to reverse course and lift its order after about eight hours. Fort Hancock is about 50 miles (80 km) from El Paso.
Reuters and other media reported that closure stemmed from concerns about the use of the laser-based anti-drone system and that the FAA had agreed to drop its restrictions around El Paso if the Pentagon agreed to delay further testing pending an FAA safety review.
Aides said there was a lack of coordination between the FAA and the Pentagon. The government informed congressional offices about the El Paso closure as well as the Fort Hancock incident late on Thursday.
The FAA notice barred all flights in the Fort Hancock area but said air ambulance or search and rescue flights can be authorized with the Joint Task Force-Southern Border. The flight restrictions are to last until June 24.
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