United States authorities have announced a sweeping ban on drone flights over stadiums hosting FIFA World Cup matches and designated fan zones during the tournament beginning next month.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said temporary flight restrictions would apply on match days, prohibiting all unauthorised aircraft — including drones — from flying within three nautical miles (5.6 kilometres) of stadiums and up to 3,000 feet (900 metres) above ground level.
The restrictions will also cover fan events organised by host cities, with no-fly zones extending one nautical mile around venues and up to 1,000 feet above ground.
“As fans from around the world gather at stadiums and fan events across the country for the FIFA World Cup, the FAA is using every available tool to protect the airspace, including stronger drone-enforcement efforts,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement.
Authorities warned that anyone violating the restrictions could face fines of up to $100,000, seizure of equipment and possible federal criminal charges.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said it would work alongside aviation authorities to monitor and enforce the restrictions throughout the tournament.
“Our primary focus is that the message gets out that it is a no-drone zone,” Aaron Hope of the FBI’s Atlanta office told reporters at a press conference.
“Should there be the need for us to intercept a drone we have the technology for that,” he added.
“We do have the technology to identify drones and then locate operators, it is something we will be doing if we need to.”
The FAA said it would deploy a new enforcement programme known as DETER, designed to rapidly detect drone violations and strengthen security operations during the tournament.
The FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada over the next two months, with millions of fans expected to attend matches and related events across North America.
