Overview
- Federal officials said they seized drones and cited pilots for flying inside FAA temporary flight restrictions set around World Cup stadiums and fan sites.
- The FAA’s stadium no-fly zones generally cover a three-nautical-mile radius up to 3,000 feet while fan-event zones commonly cover one nautical mile up to 1,000 feet.
- The FAA warned operators that violations can lead to equipment seizure, fines up to $100,000 and possible federal criminal charges.
- Law enforcement offices in multiple cities, including FBI statements about actions in Los Angeles and seizures from three operators in Atlanta, have coordinated enforcement at several venues.
- Agencies have publicized photos of seized drones but declined to say how many were taken or what technology was used to find pilots, raising questions about oversight and future transparency.