FBI seized more than 600 drones flying over World Cup games in US cities | FBI
The FBI said Saturday that more than 600 drones flying over restricted World Cup airspace in the United States have been seized since the tournament began in June; 99 of them were caught flying in Miami, 77 in Atlanta, and 32 in Kansas City.
Statement regarding XThe law enforcement agency said the drones were intercepted by the FBI and the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in all 11 host cities in the United States.
Ahead of the tournament, the FBI announced that it would enforce the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drone flight restriction enforcement policy, which includes temporary flight restrictions (or TFRs) around stadiums and related game viewing areas.
It warned that violations of the TFR could result in fines of up to $75,000, criminal fines of up to $100,000, imprisonment of up to one year, and seizure of the drones in question.
The agency has generally carefully guarded its techniques for capturing drones, including taking control or identifying operators on the ground. But the FBI said it has deployed “advanced, specialized drone mitigation teams and technology to monitor, track and intercept unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) near major restricted airspace events.”
The number of drones seized since the games began on June 10 suggests that drone operators may have ignored the FBI’s warnings. Drone restrictions apply three hours before and after a scheduled game.
“Flying drones in TFR zones is not only illegal, it is dangerous,” said Kansas City US attorney R Matthew Price. “My office is committed to keeping our community and visitors safe by keeping our skies clear of drones.
“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,” the US justice department said.
Among those arrested was a man accused of operating without an aviator certificate after flying a drone over what tournament organizers called the Dallas stadium while the match was in progress. A second person was charged with possessing an unregistered aircraft operated by another person.
One Statement made to Dallas news outlet KDFW: Ryan Raybould, US attorney for the northern district of Texas, said: “It is our duty to ensure that these fans and our wonderful citizens… are protected from drone intrusion and potentially dangerous situations.
“If you operate a drone, you have a duty to know the laws. Also, know that you cannot fly a drone in or over Dallas Stadium. [an associated fan fest] During the World Cup. If you ignore this warning, you should expect to be tried in federal court.”
According to news, The number of UAVs seized in regions where UAVs are prohibited include 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 close to the World Cup final on July 19, trails by just nine points in the drone interference table.
Extensive security planning for the tournament included FBI training exercises. Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) allocated $625 million to support security and emergency preparedness. However only final The event, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was designated as a national special security event, or NSSE.
This designation triggers a federal operation led by the Secret Service with intelligence from the FBI and emergency coordination from Fema, including strengthened security perimeters, magnetometer scanning, FAA-enforced TFRs, counter-drone systems, and ongoing counterterrorism monitoring by federal and local law enforcement.
Cities in Mexico and Canada also hosted World Cup matches during the tournament.
