FBI Deputy Director Chris Raia warned that battlefield-style drone attacks seen in Ukraine and the Middle East will arrive on U.S. soil, describing the threat as "only a matter of time." Speaking to Fox News Digital, Raia said next-generation drones operating over 5G and LTE cellular networks — rather than short-range radio-frequency links — could allow operators thousands of miles away to pilot aircraft over American cities. The bureau has already seized more than 300 drones and made eight arrests tied to unauthorized drone activity during FIFA World Cup security operations.
Next-Generation Drone Threat
Current commercially available drones rely on direct radio-frequency links or Wi-Fi-style connections that require operators to remain relatively close to the aircraft. Raia warned that the shift to cellular-network control eliminates that geographic constraint. "That means somebody in China can control a drone over New Orleans," he said. That capability, he added, would make it significantly harder for investigators to identify operators and disrupt attacks before they occur.
Raia characterized lone-actor scenarios as the more immediate concern over mass coordinated strikes. "I'm less concerned about a mass 9/11-style attack than I am a lone single person, a single attacker," he said. Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino echoed the warning on June 16, noting the technology is evolving "on probably weekly, if not monthly cycles."
Alleged UFC Conspiracy and World Cup Security
Federal prosecutors allege members of a plot targeting a White House UFC event discussed using explosive-laden drones to trigger a mass evacuation. Court records show the primary Signal chat in the alleged network included approximately 19 participants, with smaller operational chats organized by role and location. The case originated with a tip from Tycen Proper's mother, whose report led investigators to obtain a warrant for her son's phone.
Newly unsealed court records indicate investigators were also examining whether alleged conspirators discussed targeting a FIFA World Cup match scheduled for July 3 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Encrypted Communications Gap
Raia identified encrypted communications platforms as a structural vulnerability for investigators. "That is a gap for us in encrypted communications platforms," he said, acknowledging the bureau does not have visibility into every encrypted channel where criminal planning may occur. The FBI relies on confidential human sources, undercover operatives, and public tips to partially offset that gap. Raia encouraged drone hobbyists specifically to report suspicious activity, noting that frequent fliers "know better what somebody out of the ordinary looks like than we do."