Military Laser Mishap Stuns Texas Border

The U.S. military mistakenly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone with a high-energy laser weapon in Texas, marking the second major coordination failure at the border in just two weeks and raising serious questions about inter-agency communication under pressure.

Story Snapshot

Military used directed-energy laser to destroy CBP drone near Fort Hancock, Texas, in apparent friendly fire incident
FAA closed airspace through June 24, 2026, following the engagement in military-controlled territory
Incident follows similar laser mishap two weeks prior when CBP shot down a child’s birthday balloon
Congressional Democrats blame White House for ignoring bipartisan legislation on C-UAS operator training and coordination
Joint agency statement pledges increased cooperation to counter cartel drone threats along the southern border

Friendly Fire at the Border

The Department of Defense engaged what operators deemed a “seemingly threatening” unmanned aerial system near Fort Hancock, Texas, approximately 50 miles southeast of Fort Bliss Army base, on Wednesday evening. Military personnel deployed the LOCUST counter-unmanned aircraft system, a high-energy directed-energy laser weapon, to neutralize the target in restricted military airspace. The drone belonged to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, making this the first confirmed instance of the military shooting down a federal agency’s aircraft with laser technology. No commercial flights or populated areas were affected by the engagement.

Pattern of Coordination Failures

This incident represents the second laser-related airspace disruption in two weeks along the Texas border. In early February 2026, CBP operators used the same LOCUST laser system near Fort Bliss to engage what they believed was a cartel drone, only to discover they had destroyed a child’s birthday balloon. That mishap prompted an abrupt 10-day FAA airspace shutdown that temporarily halted commercial flights before being rescinded within hours due to lack of proper FAA consultation. These back-to-back failures expose critical gaps in communication protocols despite the deployment of advanced military hardware to address legitimate threats from Mexican cartels and foreign actors.

Laser Weapons Deployment Context

The Army deployed the LOCUST laser system to the southern border by summer 2025, spotted in military photographs from July of that year. The high-energy directed-energy weapon was loaned to CBP as part of expanded border security operations involving several thousand federal troops under President Trump’s directives. The system represents cutting-edge counter-drone technology designed to neutralize unmanned threats without traditional munitions. However, the sophisticated equipment requires precise identification protocols and inter-agency coordination to prevent exactly the type of friendly fire incident that occurred near Fort Hancock. The Pentagon provided limited information following the shootdown, stating only that engagement occurred under C-UAS authorities.

Political Fallout and Agency Response

Congressional Democrats expressed frustration over the incident, with ranking members Rick Larsen, André Carson, and Bennie G. Thompson stating their “heads are exploding” over what they characterized as White House incompetence. The lawmakers pointed to a bipartisan bill addressing C-UAS operator training and coordination that the administration sidestepped. A joint statement from the Department of Defense, FAA, and CBP acknowledged the engagement and committed to “increased cooperation” at President Trump’s direction to counter drone threats. The FAA issued a Notice to Air Missions closing airspace around Fort Hancock through June 24, 2026, for “special security reasons” while agencies investigate communication breakdowns and develop improved protocols.

Border Security vs. Operational Safety

The friendly fire incident underscores tensions between aggressive border security measures and operational safety requirements. Military and CBP forces face genuine threats from cartel drones and potential terrorist operatives using unmanned systems along the southern border. These threats justify deployment of advanced defensive capabilities like directed-energy weapons. However, the legitimate security concerns cannot excuse fundamental failures in identification and communication between federal agencies operating in shared airspace. This undermines the effectiveness of border operations and risks eroding public confidence in government competence. The extended airspace closure through late June suggests officials recognize the severity of coordination gaps requiring substantial remediation before normal operations resume safely.