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The Latest Breaking News from FAA

Nixon aide Alexander Butterfield who exposed Watergate tapes dies at 99

Butterfield believed he’d had a hand in the president’s fate

The Independent UK

Pentagon to Test Anti-Drone Lasers at Southern Border After Military Mistakenly Shot Down CBP Drone and Party Balloon

The Pentagon is preparing to test a high-energy laser system designed to counter drones near the U.S.-Mexico border after two recent incidents in which similar systems were used to shoot down what later turned out to be a U.S. government drone and a party balloon.

Latin Times

Anti-drone laser weapon tested in US skies amid airspace closures

The US military used a laser to shoot down a ‘seemingly threatening’ drone near the US-Mexico border

The Independent UK

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read the most diverse news in one place.

Uber and Joby Aviation Team Up: Game Changer or Hype?

Joby Aviation has a new partnership with Uber and is expecting FAA certification this year. But scaling and other challenges suggest profitability isn't close.

MarketBeat

Archer Aviation Stock Tanks—The Real Story Is What Wall Street Overlooked

Archer Aviation stock fell after Q4 results missed estimates, but a landmark FAA milestone and $2 billion in liquidity suggest the 2026 launch remains on track.

MarketBeat

‘What’s this for’: Shock shutdown of El Paso airspace caused chaos among government officials, new texts reveal

Commentary from blindsided staff behind the scenes included the words “crazy”; “wild”; “insane”; and “WTF” as they struggled to comprehend what was happening

The Independent UK

‘Another miracle on the Hudson’ as survivors pulled from New York river after plane crashes in freezing temperatures

The plane was carrying a single pilot and a passenger, with both sustaining only ‘minor injuries’ in the crash

The Independent UK

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Unripe Septics, Unripe Commandments, and Technological Advances

Short Circuit: An inexhaustive weekly compendium of rulings from the federal courts of appeal

Reason

Pentagon's Laser Brings Down Its Own Border Drone in Texas, Leaving Lawmakers With 'Heads Exploding'

A US military laser system mistakenly shot down a government drone near the Texas-Mexico border, highlighting coordination issues between federal agencies.

International Business Times UK

US Military Accidentally Shooting Down Own Drone Leaves Lawmakers Irate: 'Heads Are Exploding'

The U.S. Military accidentally shot down a border patrol drone using a laser weapon, highlighting an apparent lack of coordination between federal government agencies.

International Business Times

Democrats outraged at US military’s downing of CBP drone near Mexico border

It was second time in two weeks US military used laser to shoot down what it mistakenly thought was a threat, disrupting air traffic

The Guardian - US

‘Incompetence’: Trump admin fries its own $17 million drone with laser, Dems slam poorly trained operators

Oopsie! Well, that's only the cost of one elementary school.

We Got This Covered

US Military Shoots Down Government Drone Near Texas Border Using Laser System

The United States military used a high-energy laser system to shoot down a government drone near Fort Hancock, Texas, prompting temporary flight restrictions in the surrounding airspace, according to Reuters, which cited congressional aides.

Whats Hot

US military shoots down govt drone in Texas, leading to flight disruption

In a joint statement, the Pentagon, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and CBP confirmed that the military used a "counter-unmanned aircraft system ... to mitigate a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace." The agencies added that the episode "took place far away from populated areas and there…

The Times of India

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Axios

Texas airspace shut after Pentagon shoots down border patrol drone

The Pentagon shot down the drone because CBP didn't coordinate with the department, an administration official told Axios.

The Independent UK

Hegseth-led military used high-energy laser to shoot down CBP drone over Texas — again — forcing airspace shutdown

Members of Congress say the US military used a laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Patrol drone

Roll Call

Senators question Pentagon official over El Paso airspace closure

A Pentagon official brushed off criticism over the department’s role in the FAA's brief closure of airspace over El Paso this month.

The Independent UK

US audit finds gaps in the FAA's oversight of United Airlines maintenance

A federal government audit says FAA staffing shortages and high employee turnover have hindered the agency's oversight of airplane maintenance at United Airlines

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Tom’s Hardware

Advanced Pentagon laser weapon shot down party balloons instead of drone by mistake, says report — airport shut down after Customs and Border Protection mistakenly believed it was targeting Mexican cartel drones

A frighteningly farcical series of events involving laser weaponry, the FAA, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Pentagon has been retold by a trio of insiders talking to the WSJ.

The Independent UK

What to know about the counter drone technology that triggered the closure of the El Paso airspace

The government’s ability to deal with drones that pose a threat on American soil has been questioned this week after airspace was closed over El Paso, Texas

The Independent UK

Kristi Noem abruptly ends press conference when asked about CBP shooting down a party balloon forcing airport closure

Federal officials initially claimed a cartel drone infiltrated U.S. airspace in bizarre incident

MarketBeat

Amazon Bets Big on BETA: Why Analysts See 50% Upside

Strategic investment from Amazon and a strong cash position signal major upside for BETA Technologies as it approaches critical commercial milestones.

The Conversation

Counter-drone technologies are evolving – but there’s no surefire way to defend against drone attacks

When the Federal Aviation Administration closed the airport in El Paso, Texas, and the airspace around it on Feb. 10, 2026, the cause was, ironically, the nearby use of a technology that could be key to keeping airports and airspace open and safe.

Axios

Laser weapon that shut down El Paso's skies was LOCUST system

What we know about the bizarre events leading up to the airspace closure.

The Independent UK

How a party balloon sparked a feud between the FAA and Pentagon and shut down a city’s airspace

The sudden and unprecedented Tuesday closure of El Paso’s airspace stemmed from border officials firing a high-energy laser at what they believed to be a cartel drone, according to reports. But, it turned out to be something considerably more innocuous: a party balloon drifting in the wind.

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