The FBI announced on Saturday that it had seized more than 600 drones flying over restricted World Cup airspace in the United States since the tournament began in June. The seizures included 99 drones captured in Miami, 77 in Atlanta, and 32 in Kansas City.
Drones intercepted across all 11 US host cities
In a statement on X, the law enforcement agency said that drones had been caught across all 11 US host cities by the FBI and the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The FBI, ahead of the tournament, announced it would enforce a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drone flight restriction enforcement policy involving temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) around stadiums and related game-watch sites.
The agency warned that violations of TFRs can result in civil fines up to $75,000, criminal fines up to $100,000, up to a year in prison, and seizure of any drones involved. The FBI has generally kept its techniques for intercepting drones, including taking over control or identifying operators on the ground, carefully guarded. However, the FBI did say it was deploying “advanced, specialized drone mitigation teams and technology to monitor, track, and intercept unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) near major restricted-airspace events.”
Drone operators ignore warnings
The number of drones seized since the games began on 10 June suggests drone operators may not have heeded FBI warnings. Drone restrictions apply to three hours before and after a scheduled game. “Not only is flying drones in TFR zones illegal, it’s dangerous,” Kansas City US attorney R Matthew Price said. “My office is committed to keeping our community and visitors safe by keeping our skies drone-free. If you see a drone breaking the rules, report it. If you are flying an illegal drone, think twice because violators will be held accountable” by the US justice department.
Among those arrested was one man charged with operating without an airman’s certificate after flying a drone over what tournament organizers are calling the Dallas stadium while a match was in progress. A second man was charged with owning an unregistered aircraft that was operated by another person.
Federal prosecutors warn of consequences
In a statement to the Dallas news outlet KDFW, US attorney Ryan Raybould for the northern district of Texas said: “It is our duty to make sure that these fans as well as our great citizens … are protected from drone interference and potentially dangerous situations. If you operate a drone, you have a duty to know the law. And know that you cannot fly a drone over either Dallas Stadium or [an associated fan fest] during the World Cup. If you disregard this warning, you should expect to be prosecuted in federal court.”
According to news reports, the number of drones seized over no-drone zones includes 48 in Los Angeles, 98 in Miami, 29 in Seattle, 63 in Dallas, 77 in Atlanta, 40 in New York, and 33 in Houston. Newark, which is near where the World Cup final is due to be held on 19 July, trails the drone interception table with just nine.
Security preparations for the World Cup
Extensive security planning for the tournament has included FBI training exercises. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allocated $625 million to support security and emergency preparedness. However, only the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is designated a national special security event (NSSE). The designation triggers a federal operation led by the Secret Service, with intelligence from the FBI and emergency coordination by FEMA, including hardened security perimeters, magnetometer screening, TFRs enforced by the FAA, counter-drone systems, and continuous counter-terrorism monitoring by federal and local law enforcement agencies.
Cities in Mexico and Canada have also hosted World Cup games during the tournament.
