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 caused by confusion and miscommunication surrounding the testing of a military-grade anti-drone laser by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the U.S.-Mexico border.
CBP deployed the high-powered laser, developed by the Defense Department, to target suspected drones, including one that was identified as a party balloon, although sources claim a cartel drone was also disabled.
While CBP notified the FAA, leading to a flight restriction for civilian aircraft, key federal agencies like the White House, Pentagon, and DHS were not alerted, nor were local El Paso officials and emergency services.
The FAA's sudden flight ban and rapid cancellation drew strong criticism from El Paso's mayor and local authorities for the lack of coordination and potential disruption to emergency operations.

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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.