Eight-hour airspace closure in El Paso, Texas, reveals tensions between anti-drone systems and aviation safety.
El Paso, Texas: A short airspace closure in El Paso, Texas, and parts of New Mexico made people worry about drone defense systems. The Federal Aviation Administration stopped planes from flying for eight hours. They thought a laser used to stop drones might hurt planes.
The government first said Mexican drug cartels might send drones to El Paso. Later, the FAA learned that border control officials were using a Pentagon laser weapon. The laser hit a party balloon by mistake. Many people did not agree on how to safely stop bad drones.
A person who works in online safety said the FAA made a smart choice to stop all planes. But they did not know how long the laser would be used. The government plans to spend more money on new weapons that use lasers to find and stop small drones.
Lawmakers asked for more information about what happened. They want to ensure planes and people are safe. The new laser tools are now being tested to see if they can stop drones without hurting other things.