U.S. Military Shoots Down Border Protection Drone in Texas

Incident prompts FAA to close airspace around Fort Hancock near the U.S.-Mexico border

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The U.S. military used a laser to shoot down a drone belonging to Customs and Border Protection near the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas. The incident, which occurred near Fort Hancock about 50 miles southeast of El Paso, prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to close additional airspace in the area. This was the second time in two weeks that a laser was fired in the region, with the previous incident involving CBP using the weapon without coordinating with the FAA.

Why it matters

The case of mistaken identity highlights ongoing coordination challenges between different government agencies responsible for border security and airspace management. It also underscores the growing threat posed by drones, which are increasingly being used by drug cartels and other groups for surveillance and smuggling along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The details

The U.S. military employed counter-drone authorities to mitigate what it perceived as a threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace. The incident occurred far from populated areas and commercial flights, according to a joint statement from the FAA, CBP, and the Pentagon. The previous incident two weeks ago, which prompted the FAA to shut down air traffic at El Paso airport, involved CBP using an anti-drone laser without coordinating with the FAA.

  • The incident occurred on Thursday, February 27, 2026.
  • Two weeks prior, a similar incident occurred near Fort Bliss.

The players

U.S. Military

The U.S. armed forces, which used a laser to shoot down the CBP drone.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

The U.S. federal law enforcement agency that owns the drone that was shot down by the military.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for managing the country's airspace, which closed additional airspace around Fort Hancock following the incident.

Rep. Rick Larsen

A U.S. Representative from Washington state and a top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Security committees.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth

A U.S. Senator from Illinois and the ranking member on the Senate's Aviation Subcommittee.

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What they’re saying

“Our heads are exploding over the news.”

— Rep. Rick Larsen, U.S. Representative (Joint statement with other top Democrats)

“The Trump administration's incompetence continues to cause chaos in our skies.”

— Sen. Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senator (Statement)

What’s next

The FAA, CBP, and the Pentagon have said they are working together to mitigate drone threats at the U.S.-Mexico border, and members of Congress have called for an independent investigation into the incident.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in coordinating airspace management and border security operations between different government agencies, as well as the growing threat posed by drones along the U.S.-Mexico border.