US Seizes More Than 700 Drones During World Cup

Since the FIFA World Cup began on 11 June, US authorities have seized more than 700 drones for violating flight restrictions around stadiums and fan zones.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said several arrests had also been made.

During matches, drone flights are banned within a three-nautical-mile radius of stadiums and up to an altitude of 914m unless authorized by aviation authorities. Around fan zones, drones are prohibited within a one-nautical-mile radius. Operators face fines of up to $100,000, criminal prosecution and confiscation of their equipment.

The FBI has deployed specialist teams near stadiums to detect and disable drones. US authorities are also considering expanding no-fly zones to cover power plants and other critical infrastructure.

(Reuters, mja)