“According to two of the people briefed on the situation, military officials deployed that technology earlier this week against what they thought was a cartel drone, but which turned out to be a party balloon.”

Military’s Use of Anti-Drone Technology Said to Cause El Paso Airspace Closure

“The C.B.P. officials thought they were firing on a cartel drone, the people said, but it was a party balloon.”

What We Know About the El Paso Airspace Shutdown

“But the episode turned bizarre when C.B.P. officials used the technology on what they thought was a cartel drone earlier this week but appeared to have been a party balloon, according to two officials.”

Closing of El Paso Airspace Adds to Tension Between F.A.A. and Pentagon

“Trump administration officials said the sudden closure of El Paso’s airspace this week was because of a drone flown by a Mexican cartel.In reality, U.S. officials shot a laser at a party balloon, The New York Times reported.”

Do Drug Cartels Actually Use Drones at the Border?

“But that narrative was disputed by multiple people familiar with the situation who said the border protection unit ended up shooting down a party balloon, rather than a drone. They aimed the laser at what they thought was a drone flying near the Army’s Fort Bliss, though it turned out to be a metallic balloon.”

Inside the Debacle That Led to the Closure of El Paso’s Airspace

“Earlier this week, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy declared that the authorities had confronted a "cartel drone incursion" over El Paso, Texas, only for the threat to turn out to be a party balloon.”

The El Paso drone scare is the future of national security paranoia