FAA Flight Restrictions Near Fort Hancock After Drone Incident
On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed flight restrictions around Fort Hancock, Texas, following reports that a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone was shot down by a laser system operated by the Pentagon.
While the FAA has not disclosed the drone’s ownership, Democratic leaders from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released a statement asserting that the drone was indeed a CBP vehicle. Sens. Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and Andre Carson expressed their disbelief, saying their “heads are exploding with the news” of the incident involving a “high-risk counter-unmanned aircraft system.”
They criticized the White House for allegedly making a “short-sighted” decision that avoided passing a bipartisan bill aimed at training counter-UAS operators and improving collaboration among the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and FAA.
In a shared statement, the Department of the Army, CBP, and FAA indicated that the drone engagement occurred as a “seemingly threatening unmanned aircraft system” was operating within military airspace. They noted that this engagement occurred away from populated regions, ensuring that no civilian aircraft were nearby.
The statement highlighted ongoing cooperative efforts to mitigate the drone threats posed by Mexican cartels and foreign terrorist organizations at the U.S.-Mexico border. They claimed, “the Trump administration is doing more to secure the border and crack down on cartels than any administration in history.”
Reports from congressional aides mentioned that a high-energy laser system was involved in the accidental downing of the CBP drone, which has been a concern due to frequent drone activity linked to Mexican drug cartels in the area.
The FAA confirmed to Fox News that temporary flight restrictions (TFR) are now in effect around Fort Hancock, having been expanded to cover a broader area to enhance safety. Notably, these restrictions do not extend to commercial flights.
A Notice of Air Mission (NOTAM) from the FAA indicated that airspace in the vicinity of Fort Hancock is restricted for “special safety reasons.” These restrictions followed a prior incident where the FAA had briefly suspended flights to and from El Paso International Airport, only to lift the ban shortly after.
Previously, Trump administration officials stated that the lockdown was related to “Mexican cartel drones” entering U.S. airspace. In a separate incident, officials later clarified that the military shot down what turned out to be a party balloon near El Paso.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for further comment and was directed to the joint statement from the Department of the Army, Customs and Border Protection, and the FAA.
