Politics4d ago·39 sources
The Pentagon said it shot down a “seemingly threatening” drone near the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday, prompting aviation officials to expand flight restrictions around an area of Fort Hancock, Texas
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily closed airspace around El Paso, Texas, for several hours before reopening it, citing the Pentagon's authorization of a laser to shoot down what was believed to be a Mexican drone. However, the object was later identified as a mylar party balloon. This incident highlighted a lack of coordination between the FAA and the Pentagon. While the Trump administration stated the closure was due to a cartel drone threat, local officials, including U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar and El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson, expressed skepticism and criticized the lack of communication, comparing the disruption to post-9/11 events. Senator Ted Cruz is seeking more information on interagency coordination.