Military to CBP peeps - hey we got this cool new ray gun - why don't you give it a try!

Or Happy Birthday balloon escapes from back yard in Mexico causing U.S. FAA to issue complete closure of airspace around El Paso Texas.

- U.S. administration officials claimed an air borne "cartel drone incursion" required a military response.

- A weapon was fired, a 20-kilowatt laser system called LOCUST, which actually belongs to the U.S. military, BUT, it was fired by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), without prior contact to the FAA

- This "incursion" was determined to be a party balloon.

- The FAA reacted and closed the Air Space because the counter-drone laser weapon had been fired without sufficient coordination. The airspace closure was lifted hours later.

https://www.axios.com/2026/02/12/el-paso-laser-weapon-locust-drone #Drone #CBP #Customs #USMilitary #FAA #AirSpace #Safety #CivilianAircraft #AirTravel #ElPaso #CustomsBorderProtection #LaserWeapon #Laser #Balloon