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US Military Shoots Down Government Drone in Texas Accident
Congressional aides say the incident prompted FAA to bar flights in the area around Fort Hancock, Texas
Published on Feb. 27, 2026
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The U.S. military shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a laser-based anti-drone system near the Mexican border in Texas, an accident that prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to bar flights in the area around Fort Hancock. Congressional aides criticized the lack of coordination between the Pentagon, FAA, and Customs and Border Protection that led to the incident.
Why it matters
This incident highlights ongoing challenges with the use of counter-drone technologies and the need for better coordination between federal agencies to ensure public safety, especially in areas near the border where drones are sometimes used by drug cartels. The shutdown of airspace around El Paso earlier this month due to similar concerns also raised questions about the deployment of these systems.
The details
According to congressional aides, the Pentagon used a high-energy laser system to shoot down the CBP drone, which was operating within military airspace. The agencies involved said the incident took place far from populated areas and there were no commercial aircraft nearby. However, lawmakers criticized the lack of coordination that led to the accident and the subsequent airspace restrictions.
- On February 26, 2026, the U.S. military shot down a government drone near the Mexican border in Texas.
- On February 27, 2026, the FAA barred flights in the area around Fort Hancock, Texas due to the incident.
The players
U.S. Military
The branch of the U.S. armed forces that used a laser-based anti-drone system to shoot down the government drone.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
The government agency that owned the drone that was shot down by the U.S. military.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The government agency that barred flights in the area around Fort Hancock, Texas following the drone incident.
Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and Andre Carson
Top Democratic members of congressional committees overseeing aviation and homeland security issues, who criticized the lack of coordination between agencies that led to the incident.
Tammy Duckworth
The top Democratic member of an aviation subcommittee who called for inspectors-general at the three agencies to investigate the shootdown and El Paso incident.
What they’re saying
“Now, we're seeing the result of incompetence.”
— Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and Andre Carson, Top Democratic members of congressional committees (Reuters)
“The Trump administration's incompetence continues to cause chaos in our skies.”
— Tammy Duckworth, Top Democratic member of an aviation subcommittee (Reuters)
What’s next
The inspectors-general at the FAA, Pentagon, and Customs and Border Protection are expected to investigate the shootdown of the government drone and the earlier incident at the El Paso airport.
The takeaway
This incident underscores the need for better coordination and communication between federal agencies when deploying counter-drone technologies, especially in sensitive areas near the border, to ensure public safety and avoid accidents that disrupt commercial air travel.
