Report: Anti-Drone Laser Test Prompted El Paso Airspace Closure

Elected officials push for answers after sudden shutdown.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A Southwest Airlines 737 is loaded for a flight at El Paso International Airport. [Credit: Shutterstock/Royce Ngiam]

Key Takeaways:

The brief shutdown of El Paso airspace was reportedly due to confusion surrounding the testing of a high-powered anti-drone laser by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) near the U.S.-Mexico border.
CBP was utilizing a Defense Department-developed laser at Fort Bliss to counter suspected foreign drones, although it mistakenly targeted a party balloon in one instance.
A miscommunication occurred, where the FAA restricted flights based on CBP's laser use, but the White House, Pentagon, and Department of Homeland Security were not alerted.
Local El Paso officials heavily criticized the FAA for the lack of coordination and information regarding the flight restriction, raising concerns about its potential impact on emergency services.

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A new possible explanation for the brief shutdown of the airspace in El Paso, Texas, surfaced late Wednesday—confusion over the testing of an anti-drone laser at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Sources cited by CBS News said the Defense Department has been experimenting with a high-powered laser at Fort Bliss, which abuts El Paso International Airport (KELP). The technology was used by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) earlier this week to target a suspected drone, which turned out to be a party balloon.