US military uses laser to take down Border Protection drone near El Paso

Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee said Thursday that the United States military used a laser to shoot a Customs and Border Protection drone in Texas.The incident prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to close down more airspace near El Paso, though no commercial flights were impacted by the closure this time, according to the Associated Press.
The FAA closed the airspace around El Paso International Airport earlier this month due to an incursion by cartel drones, but it was later reopened.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Rick Larsen said in a joint statement with House Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie Thompson that their “heads are exploding” over the news. 
“We said months ago that the White House’s decision to sidestep a bipartisan, tri-committee bill to appropriately train C-UAS operators and address the lack of coordination between the Pentagon, DHS and the FAA was a short-sighted idea,” the Democrats said. “Now, we’re seeing the result of its incompetence.”
The FAA told the Associated Press Thursday that it has expanded the airspace closure around Fort Hancock.

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