Feds charge four as World Cup drone crackdown tops 400 seizures across US host cities nationwide
Four people are facing federal charges after allegedly flying drones into restricted airspace at FIFA World Cup events, as the FBI says authorities have now seized more than 400 unauthorized drones across the tournament's 11 U.S. host cities.
The suspects, Huu An Nguyen Dinh, John Alexander Meza, Patrick Heer, and Jordan Lee Zale, are accused of violating Temporary Flight Restrictions established around FIFA World Cup venues, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas.
According to the FBI, Dinh had been warned by police just days before he allegedly flew a drone into restricted airspace.
The FBI's Houston field office used the cases to send a blunt warning to anyone thinking about launching a drone near a World Cup match or official fan event.
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"Don't want to be federally charged? Then don't fly in a #NoDroneZone!" the agency wrote in a social media post announcing the charges.
The federal charges are the latest sign authorities are aggressively enforcing airspace restrictions around World Cup venues nationwide.
"Due to unprecedented law enforcement coordination, this FBI and our DHS partners have seized over 400 drones from restricted airspace across all 11 U.S. host cities since the start of the FIFA World Cup tournament," the bureau said in a separate statement.
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The Transportation Security Administration previously told FOX Local that the federal government, led by the White House Task Force and working alongside the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, TSA, Federal Aviation Administration and state and local law enforcement, launched a coordinated airspace security and drone mitigation operation for the tournament.
"Unauthorized drone flights in restricted areas are a serious violation of federal law," a TSA spokesperson told FOX Local. "Operators can face fines up to $100,000, drone seizure, and federal criminal charges. Enforcement is swift and proactive."
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The FAA has designated every World Cup stadium and official fan event as a "No Drone Zone," warning that "unauthorized drone flights are strictly prohibited in the designated airspace and surrounding grounds." During major sporting events, the agency establishes Temporary Flight Restrictions, or TFRs, to secure the airspace around venues and protect players, fans, teams and law enforcement operations.
The restrictions extend beyond stadiums. The FAA has also imposed temporary drone bans around official fan festival sites in host cities, including Houston's East Downtown District, Dallas Fair Park, New York's Rockefeller Center, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Philadelphia's Lemon Hill Park. The agency says additional restrictions may also be implemented around team hotels, training sites and other tournament-related locations.
Federal officials warn the consequences can be steep. According to the FAA, operators who violate those restrictions "may face" civil penalties of up to $75,000 per violation, criminal fines of up to $100,000, confiscation of their drone and federal criminal prosecution. The agency has also deployed its Drone Expedited and Targeted Enforcement Response, or DETER, initiative to accelerate investigations during the World Cup.
The nationwide crackdown has already led to dozens of enforcement actions across multiple host cities.
Houston has seen 28 drone seizures since World Cup events began, according to the FBI. Seattle's total climbed to 22 after agents seized six drones from operators who violated flight restrictions on June 24. In Dallas, the FBI recently announced agents confiscated four drones that allegedly violated Temporary Flight Restrictions over AT&T Stadium and the city's FIFA Fan Festival.
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Kansas City also saw a major enforcement operation on June 18, when federal authorities intercepted eight drones during FIFA World Cup events after operators allegedly violated Temporary Flight Restrictions, according to the TSA. The FBI seized all eight drones and their controllers, while two drone operators received misdemeanor violation notices. Officials said the counter-drone operation also led to the arrest of a woman wanted on six outstanding warrants.
"Not only is flying drones in TFR zones illegal, it's dangerous. My office is committed to keeping our community and visitors safe by keeping our skies drone free," U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price said following the Kansas City operation. "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 by the Department of Justice."
The warning has also been echoed by FBI field offices across the country.
In Seattle, the bureau cautioned fans, "Planning to fly your drone at a World Cup match? Think again!" The FBI warned that "Temporary Flight Restrictions will be in place around World Cup stadiums and fan festivals" and that "flying a drone in these areas is prohibited and a federal crime."
The bureau also urged drone operators to "always check airspace restrictions using FAA-approved B4UFLY apps or visit tfr.faa.gov" before flying and encouraged the public to "report unsafe drone activity immediately at 1-800-CALL-FBI."
Fox News' Stephanie Weaver contributed to this report.