Border Officials Are Said to Have Caused El Paso Closure by Firing Anti-Drone Laser

People familiar with the episode said the use of the technology was not coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration. Officials targeted what they thought was a drug cartel drone, but turned out to be a party balloon, they said.The Federal Aviation Administration’s decision Tuesday night to close El Paso’s airspace up to 18,000 feet blindsided officials in El Paso.