High-energy laser tests on a party balloon prompted decision to close airspace: report
New details have emerged about a disagreement between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense that led to the brief airspace closure in El Paso, Texas.
The Pentagon had been planning to test high-energy laser technology at Fort Bliss, two sources told CBS News, and meetings were scheduled to discuss safety impacts at nearby El Paso International Airport, but defense officials grew impatient.
"Pentagon officials wanted to test the technology sooner, stating that U.S. Code 130i requirements governing the protection of certain facilities from unmanned aircraft had been met," the network reported. "FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on Tuesday night decided to close the airspace — without alerting White House, Pentagon or Homeland Security officials, sources said."
A critical bulletin was issued by the FAA to pilots and airlines to stay above 18,000 feet for the next 10 days, warning violators risked being shot down, and Bedford told officials those restrictions would remain in place until safety issues could be resolved with the Defense Department.
"Earlier this week, the anti-drone technology was launched near the southern border to shoot down what appeared to be foreign drones," CBS News reported. "The flying material turned out to be a party balloon, sources said. One balloon was shot down, several sources said."
President Donald Trump was not made aware the closure was coming, but the FAA lifted the restrictions within minutes of the matter being discussed Wednesday morning in a regular meeting at White House chief of staff Susie Wiles' office.
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