As Super Bowl LIX looms on the horizon, the NFL has issued a strong plea to Congress to address the puzzling surge of drone activity sweeping the United States, fearing it could disrupt the high-stakes event or other league games.
Since November, reports of drones have multiplied across the Northeast, with sightings in New York, Ohio, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Some of these drones have even flown over U.S. military installations, sparking nationwide concern and ongoing investigations.
While the Pentagon has reassured the public that most drones are recreational and pose no sinister threat, the NFL isn’t taking any chances.
Open stadiums are the ones that cause the most concern
“The time for us to act on this is now,” stated Cathy Lanier, the league’s chief security officer, in a conversation with Sierra Fox of FOX 5 DC. “We don’t want to wait until something bad happens.”
The league’s worries center on the potential chaos drones could cause at outdoor stadiums. Although Super Bowl LIX, set to take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9, will be shielded by the dome’s roof, most NFL stadiums lack such protection.
Iconic teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, and Baltimore Ravens, whose open-air stadiums are more vulnerable, could face significant disruptions from unauthorized drone flights.
The White House denies that there is any threat
On December 16, The White House issued its most detailed response yet to the recent wave of drone sightings. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby outlined the findings, saying the incidents largely involve “lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, law enforcement drones, and even stars mistakenly reported as drones.”
He reassured the public, stating, “We have not identified anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the Northeast. The work continues.”
While officials downplay the risk, the NFL remains steadfast in its call for preemptive action. With the stakes higher than ever and millions of fans tuning in, the league wants assurances that the mysterious drone invasion won’t overshadow the season’s grand finale.
