ATLANTA — The FBI and Atlanta Police Department are conducting a significant security operation targeting unauthorized drones near World Cup venues ahead of the semifinals between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium.

Both agencies have deployed drones to monitor potential threats both on the ground and in the air. The FBI is actively enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration's Temporary Flight Restrictions around the stadium.

Since the World Cup began, the FBI has confiscated over 600 drones nationwide, with Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office Marlo Graham reporting that 86 of those drones were seized in Atlanta alone. Graham explained that the FBI uses a specialized "mechanism" to detect unauthorized drones in restricted airspace and has successfully managed to safely land such drones when found.

Kindu Franklin noted that most individuals caught flying drones near World Cup venues are hobbyists without any harmful intent toward the crowds. Many have recently purchased drones specifically to capture footage for FIFA and share on social media.

The drone unit, according to Cunningham, has completed more than 1,400 flights and logged over 550 flight hours since early June. Anais Paredes, an APD drone pilot, emphasized their local knowledge, saying, "We live here, so we know what to expect."

Authorities remain vigilant, recognizing the potential for drones to be weaponized and are operating proactively to mitigate any threats. They also aim to prevent disruptions to the games, such as a drone interfering with play during critical moments.

Sources