DoD Admits to Mistakenly Downing CBP Drone Over El Paso, FAA Expands Airspace Restrictions
The Department of Defense (DoD) mistakenly shot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone near El Paso, Texas, officials confirmed Thursday. The incident prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expand temporary flight restrictions over the Fort Hancock airspace, raising concerns about coordination between federal agencies.
Incident Details and Congressional Response
According to a statement from House representatives and a congressional aide, the DoD mistakenly downed the CBP drone over El Paso. Congress was briefed on the incident on Thursday, a source confirmed to ABC News .
Ranking members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure – Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), André Carson (D-Ind.), and Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) – released a joint statement expressing outrage. “Our heads are exploding over the news that DoD reportedly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a high risk counter-unmanned aircraft system,” they said. The lawmakers criticized the White House’s decision to bypass a bipartisan bill aimed at improving training for counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) operators and enhancing coordination between the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and FAA .
Expanded Airspace Restrictions
The FAA has expanded its temporary flight restrictions over the Fort Hancock airspace, located approximately 50 miles southeast of El Paso. This prohibits all flight operations in the area through June 24, citing “security” reasons . The FAA stated that the restrictions do not impact commercial flights.
Previous Airspace Closure and Laser Use
This incident follows a previous, abrupt shutdown of airspace over El Paso earlier in February. Sources indicated that the earlier closure came days after DHS used a laser to down an object near Fort Bliss, identified as a balloon . The Trump administration had previously attributed the initial airspace closure to neutralizing cartel drones .
Department Responses
The Defense Department and Transportation Department have deferred questions to the FAA, which issued a brief statement confirming the expanded airspace closure over Fort Hancock . CBP has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the incident . U.S. Northern Command declined to comment .