ATLANTA — The FBI and Atlanta Police Department are conducting a large-scale security operation ahead of the World Cup semifinals between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium. Both agencies are deploying drones to monitor for potential threats both on the ground and in the air.

The FBI is enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration's Temporary Flight Restrictions around the venue. Since the World Cup began, the FBI has confiscated over 600 drones nationwide, with 86 seized in Atlanta alone, according to Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office Marlo Graham.

Graham explained that the FBI uses a specialized mechanism to detect unauthorized drones in restricted airspace and has successfully landed such drones safely. "We've been able to safely land drones that have been unauthorized in the flight restricted area," he said.

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

The Atlanta Police Department's drone unit 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 about the risks drones can pose, including potential weaponization. "There are different ways that you can weaponize these drones. So, we're operating in a proactive manner," officials said. They also expressed concern about disruptions during the game, such as a hobbyist losing control of a drone at a critical moment.

The closed dome stadium in Atlanta offers some protection, but the agencies continue to work to mitigate any threats posed by unauthorized drones.

Sources