El Paso airport closed after military used new anti-drone laser to zap party balloon
Summary
Ars Technica reports that the FAA briefly closed airspace above El Paso International Airport amid a test of a new anti-drone laser by the military, which targeted a party balloon rather than an actual drone. The incident prompted criticism over coordination between the FAA and DoD and raised safety concerns for flight operations near Fort Bliss. The piece situates the event within broader drone-security challenges near the border and discusses implications for aviation policy and testing protocols.