The U.S. military’s use of a classified laser weapon system to target suspected cartel drones over El Paso, Texas, resulted in the accidental downing of several party balloons, multiple news outlets reported on Thursday, citing sources from the Trump administration.
The incident occurred on Monday at Fort Bliss, near El Paso International Airport. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), using a Pentagon-loaned counter-drone system, deployed the weapon against what were believed to be Mexican drug cartel drones. According to Reuters and Fox News, the system was identified as AeroVironment’s LOCUST, a 20-kilowatt directed-energy weapon under testing for counter-drone operations. Initial analysis of debris, however, revealed at least three of the intercepted objects were mylar party balloons.
The episode prompted a rapid response from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The agency ordered a ten-day temporary flight restriction over the region on Wednesday, which was lifted after approximately seven hours with limited public explanation. Sources described the FAA’s internal reaction as severe, with concerns that CBP operated the laser system without proper regulatory clearance, potentially endangering commercial air traffic.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy framed the event as a coordinated counter-drone effort between the FAA and the Pentagon, stating “The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel.” He did not explicitly confirm the laser’s deployment. The FAA, Pentagon, and White House have declined to comment on the specific operation.
The incident has sparked diplomatic friction. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum stated on Thursday that her government has requested formal clarification from the United States, emphasizing that Mexico was not involved. She noted that U.S. statements reference “cartels” rather than the Mexican state, but the unexplained airspace closure warranted an explanation.
This event unfolds against a backdrop of heightened U.S.-Mexico tensions. President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Mexico of failing to stop drug smuggling and has threatened unilateral military action. The deployment of a powerful, non-lethal military laser on U.S. soil near an international border—and its apparent malfunction—raises significant questions about inter-agency coordination, rules of engagement for new weapons technology, and the safety of civilian airspace amid cross-border security operations. The lack of official confirmation and the swift, opaque handling of the airspace closure have intensified scrutiny of the administration’s counter-narcotics protocols.
