U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI Issue Warning Over Use of Drones During 2026 FIFA World Cup

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas and FBI Dallas are jointly promoting the importance of drone safety and flight restrictions.

The information below is intended to raise awareness among the public at large, help to ensure the safety of fans, and also serve as a deterrence.

During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed a Temporary Flight Restriction over multiple locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. These temporary flight restrictions temporarily restrict all aircraft - airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS, more commonly known as "drones") - from flying over a specific geographic area.

On each match day, a temporary flight restriction will be in effect over AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. AT&T Stadium will be known as "Dallas Stadium" during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The flight restriction will span a 3-nautical-mile radius from AT&T Stadium, up to 3,000 feet, and will take effect 3 hours before the start of each match and will conclude 3 hours after the end of each match.

During the FIFA Fan Festival, taking place from June 11, 2026, through July 19, 2026, a temporary flight restriction will be in place over Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, for each day of the Fan Festival. The flight restriction will span a 1-nautical-mile radius from the Dos Equis Pavilion in Fair Park, up to 1,000 feet, and will be in effect 1 hour before the start of the festival each day and 1 hour after the festival concludes each day.

While these temporary flight restrictions are in place, the flying of any drone or other aircraft or UAS will be forbidden unless prior approval is obtained from the FAA. Violators will be subject to federal prosecution, imprisonment, fines, and/or forfeiture of their drone or UAS.

To avoid committing criminal federal violations, all drone pilots are reminded and warned of their responsibility to:

1. Register and label your drone and obtain a Part 107 pilot's license from the FAA before operating your drone in any flight-restricted airspace;
2. Register and label your drone and obtain a Part 107 pilot's license before operating your drone in any capacity other than as a FAA-designated recreational pilot (including when flying for commercial purposes or for footage that may be monetized);
3. Obtain a TRUST certificate from the FAA to be carried with you at all times that you are piloting your drone for recreational purposes only; and
4. Familiarize yourself with airspace classifications and restrictions (including temporary flight restrictions and Notices to Airmen or "NOTAMs") before piloting your drone for any purpose to avoid flying in any flight-restricted airspace, or, if necessary, to seek permission and approval before flying in any flight-restricted airspace.

As part of ongoing drone enforcement, the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas has prosecuted numerous individuals for illegally flying unmanned aircraft systems (drones) in restricted areas, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.

The cases are as follows:

• David Flores, 3:25-CR-329-B, pled guilty to one felony count of Operation of an Unregistered Drone and was sentenced to time served (a period of about five months' imprisonment);

• David Fowler, 3:25-CR-231-L, pled guilty to one felony count of Operation of an Unregistered Drone, set for sentencing on June 23, 2026;

• Melvin Mitchell III, 4:26-CR-162-O, charged via indictment with one felony count of Operating as an Airman Without an Airman's Certificate, case is currently pending;

• Ernesto Villanueva Gonzalez, 4:25-CR-149-BJ - pled guilty to one count of Violation of National Defense Airspace and sentenced to time served (approximately two months' imprisonment) and a monetary fine;

• Jason Carvell Banner, 4:24-CR-159-BJ, pled guilty to one count of Violation of National Defense Airspace for flying a drone over the Texas Rangers Ballpark, sentenced to 25 months' probation and a monetary fine;

• Scott Lorenzen, 3:24-CR-502-BK, pled guilty to one count of Violation of National Defense Airspace and sentenced to six months' probation;

• Shawn Yang, 4:26-CR-42-BJ, pled guilty to one count of Violation of National Defense Airspace and ordered to pay a monetary fine;

• Vincent Paolella, 4:26-CR-148-BJ, charged via criminal information with one count of Violation of National Defense Airspace, case is currently pending; and

• Jasson Longoria, 4:26-CR-149-BJ, charged via criminal information with one count of Violation of National Defense Airspace, case is currently pending.

"We want the 2026 FIFA World Cup fans to have a world class time while they are in the DFW metroplex. When someone makes a decision to fly a drone over restricted airspace, they are wasting valuable law enforcement resources and jeopardizing the safety and overall experience of those who are there to watch the beautiful game. Please remember that you cannot fly a drone at or near the Dallas Stadium and FIFA Fan Festival, as they are no-fly zones," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "If you choose to ignore this warning, understand that we'll be ready for you and you will be prosecuted."

"It is the drone operator's responsibility to understand where Temporary Flight Restrictions exist. Before you fly a drone, I strongly encourage you to check for active flight restrictions using an FAA-approved B4UFLY service provider," said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. "To ensure the safety of the World Cup events, we will use our full suite of capabilities to identify drone operators violating TFRs, seize their drones, and support their prosecution.

A complaint, an information, and an indictment are merely an allegations of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

See a drone breaking the rules? Blow the whistle! Report it to 911, on-site law enforcement, or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.