US Military Mistakenly Shoots Down Border Patrol Drone with Laser System

The United States military inadvertently shot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone near the Mexican border using a laser-based anti-drone system. This incident occurred in an area frequently targeted by Mexican drones operated by drug cartels. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded by imposing temporary flight restrictions in the Fort Hancock, Texas area, which are expected to last until June 24, although they may be lifted sooner.

Reports indicate that the Defense Department was unaware that the drone belonged to CBP and had not coordinated the use of the laser system with the FAA. The lack of communication between the military and the FAA, as well as the absence of notification from CBP to the military's laser unit, led to the drone being perceived as an unidentified threat.

This incident follows another in early February when CBP mistakenly targeted a party balloon with a laser, using the same technology borrowed from the military to combat drug smuggling. In both cases, the lasers were deployed without FAA approval, raising concerns among aviation safety experts about potential legal violations.

Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democratic member of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, criticized the Trump administration for its handling of the situation, calling for an independent investigation. Duckworth highlighted ongoing issues with communication between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the FAA, referencing a previous incident that resulted in loss of life due to similar communication failures.

Additional criticism came from Democratic Representatives Rick Larsen, André Carson, and Bennie Thompson, who expressed frustration over the lack of coordination between the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the FAA. They pointed to the administration's decision to bypass a bipartisan bill aimed at improving training and coordination for counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) operators.

The Pentagon, CBP, and FAA issued a joint statement confirming the incident and emphasizing their commitment to improving cooperation and communication to prevent future occurrences. The statement noted that the engagement took place in a remote area, away from populated regions and commercial aircraft. The agencies reiterated their efforts to secure the border and combat threats from Mexican cartels and foreign terrorist organizations.

Despite the incident, the statement did not acknowledge that the downed drone was operated by CBP, and the Pentagon declined to provide further details. The situation underscores the need for improved inter-agency communication and coordination in addressing drone threats along the US-Mexico border.