Topline
The U.S. military accidentally shot down a drone operated by Customs and Border Protection using a laser weapon on Thursday, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to shut down airspace over a region in Texas near the Mexican border, in a repeat of a similar airspace shutdown over the state earlier this month following the use of a laser weapon.
Key Facts
The shoot down was first reported by Reuters, citing Congressional aides, and later confirmed by Democrats on the House’s subcommittees overseeing transportation and Homeland Security.
In a statement, Reps. Rick Larsen, D-Wash. Bennie Thomson, D-Miss., and Andre Carson, D-Ind., said: “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.”
The congressmen, who are the top Democrats on House committees overseeing transportation and Homeland Security, attacked the White House for sidestepping a “bipartisan, tri-committee bill” to properly train anti-drone weapon operators and failing to “address the lack of coordination between the Pentagon, DHS and the FAA.”
The FAA has responded to the shoot-down by issuing a notice to shut down airspace over a border region in West Texas, near Fort Hancock, which will remain in effect for nearly four months.
What Does The Faa Shutdown Notice Say?
According to the FAA’s notice to airmen (NOTAM), the airspace shutdown will remain in effect till June 24, and the reason mentioned is “Temporary flight restrictions for Special Security Reasons.” The NOTAM says “no pilots may operate an aircraft” over the restricted airspace and asks special medevac/air ambulance flights or search and rescue flights to contact its Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center. It is unclear if this airspace shutdown will impact commercial flight schedules in the region.
