Security officials are preparing for drones to pose one of the tournament’s most complex threats as authorities seek to secure stadiums, fan areas, team hotels, training sites and transportation routes in several U.S. cities and jurisdictions.
Industry executives and U.S. officials said the threat ranges from careless spectators looking for social media footage to operators conducting surveillance or trying to disrupt matches.
Also read:
InfoMoney Planner: your finances under control
Melissa Swisher, chief revenue officer at SkySafe, a drone detection and airspace security company, said cheap aircraft have “fundamentally changed” security planning for major sporting events as they can enter restricted areas before authorities can react.
“A thousand-dollar drone that flies at 65 to 70 km/h can travel 3 km in less than three minutes,” Swisher said. “By the time someone sees him, it’s already too late.”
Swisher said the most likely use during the World Cup could be surveillance rather than an aircraft carrying a payload. Drones could be used to study security standards, monitor team movements or obtain unauthorized images. Others may be flown by amateurs, the media or fans who don’t understand the temporary flight restrictions, she said.
Drones can bypass conventional stadium security such as blocking posts, magnetometers and expanded perimeters for pedestrians, said Tom Adams, director of public safety at counter-drone company DroneShield and a former FBI agent.
“You have something that can bypass all of these traditional security measures and go right through everything,” Adams said. “In many cases, it is just a careless and uninformed person who wants to take a cool photo to post on their social media page.”
Detection Networks
Companies specializing in combating drones are working with public security agencies and law enforcement authorities to build detection networks around tournament sites. SkySafe said its sensors can identify drone signals, track flight paths and, when possible, locate the operator.
Continues after advertising
DroneShield is supporting a deployment in the Kansas City region led by police and regional partners to help detect drones in multiple jurisdictions.
Executives said shooting down drones is rarely a simple option in crowds, as debris can put bystanders at risk. Identifying the operator may be the safest response when a drone appears to be collecting information rather than posing an immediate physical threat.
The Trump administration has reportedly spent $250 million since December to help U.S. host cities deal with drone threats.
Continues after advertising
The funding, distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to 11 host states and Washington, D.C., is intended to help track and mitigate unauthorized aircraft. On game days, planes and drones will be prohibited within 3 miles of stadiums and up to 3,000 feet in altitude, in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration restrictions.
