Federal aviation officials have shut down a slice of airspace near Fort Hancock, Texas, after what appears to be a friendly-fire hit in the sky: a U.S. military counter-drone system reportedly knocked a U.S. government drone out of the air. The temporary flight restriction was issued for “special security reasons” and is set to stay in place through late June, following on the heels of another anti-drone deployment near El Paso that briefly disrupted commercial flights and has lawmakers demanding answers.
FAA Expands TFR After Reported Laser Strike
The FAA’s notice on its NOTAM alert system says the restriction around Fort Hancock took effect Thursday evening and runs through June 24. As reported by The Guardian, the agency cited “special security reasons” for broadening the temporary flight restriction. According to media reports, neither the FAA nor the Pentagon had immediately provided detailed public comment on what exactly went wrong.
Congressional Aides and Lawmakers Demand Answers
Congressional aides told Reuters that a military, laser-based counter-unmanned aircraft system is believed to have accidentally shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone. Top Democrats on the House aviation and homeland security panels issued a blistering joint statement, saying, “Our heads are exploding,” as they called for briefings and tighter coordination across agencies. According to that reporting, the Pentagon and CBP both pointed reporters back to the FAA for further information.
Earlier El Paso Misfire Raised Safety Questions
This latest incident comes on the heels of another high-profile counter-drone mishap near El Paso, where an earlier deployment reportedly hit party balloons and prompted the FAA to briefly ground flights. That episode ramped up scrutiny over who is allowed to deploy military anti-drone systems inside U.S. airspace and how those operations must be coordinated with aviation regulators, as reported by The Washington Post. Aviation officials say the current restrictions around Fort Hancock are intended to eliminate any risk to civilian aircraft while agencies sort out what happened.
Local Impact and Oversight Next Steps
Fort Hancock, about 40 miles east of El Paso, is not in the main path of commercial air traffic, but local officials say they are tracking the FAA order and gathering details, according to local reporting. The FAA’s notice makes room for medevac flights and search-and-rescue operations, which can be cleared through Joint Task Force-Southern Border, regional outlet KVIA reports. Senators and House members, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth, have called for independent reviews and inspector-general briefings to ensure aviation safety and proper interagency coordination, according to CNN.
