The thwarted drone attack targeting the UFC fight at the White House over the weekend is a stark example of how the threat in the United States is very much one for the present and not just the future.
The FBI announced on Tuesday morning it made five arrests in connection to an alleged drone attack plot targeting the fight, and on one of the suspects’ phones, authorities found at least 23 Signal users involved in discussing parameters of what could have been a devastating terrorist attack.
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The alleged plan involved using explosive-laden drones to hit buildings near the event, force a mass evacuation, and steer crowds toward a pre-staged sniper team, while a “second wave” was then allegedly planning to storm the White House gate, according to officials.
“I have been warning about, certainly not just me, but a number of people who have been in the space, this, just not a future threat of drones, [it’s] the now threat of drones,” former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said on Fox News on Tuesday. “…This technology is evolving on probably weekly, if not monthly cycles now. People looking to commit malicious acts, terrorists, and others, haven’t picked up on this. It’s cheap. It’s very difficult to defeat.”
Law enforcement made arrests over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California in connection to the plot, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Paul Goldenberg, the deputy director of Rutgers University’s Miller Center on policing and senior adviser at Draganfly, a drone company, told the Washington Examiner: “The only thing I’m surprised about is that it didn’t happen sooner, that’s the only thing I’m surprised about.”
“This has been looming out there for quite a while. The real story, candidly, isn’t that the plot will stop. The real story is that a drone-enabled terrorist attack against the highest profile target in the country was being planned in the first place,” Goldenberg said.
He said this is “a 9/10 moment, literally, and I don’t think that’s an overreaction,” referencing the day before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S.
Law enforcement has been on high alert for drone threats due to several high-profile events this year, including the FIFA World Cup and America 250 celebrations, including the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House.
The New York FBI field office said they seized six drones related to recreational drone usage near a FIFA fan zone as of June 14, which has restricted airspace, while the Kansas branch said they detected 14 unauthorized drones entering restricted airspace and had seized nine drones. The FBI Atlanta Counter UAV Task Force also said it seized 21 drones.
One of the people whose drone was confiscated in Atlanta was arrested. Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez, a twice-deported illegal immigrant from Mexico with a prior cocaine distribution conviction, faces federal charges for violating the airspace over Centennial Olympic Park and for illegally reentering the country.
U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quinones of the Southern District of Florida said 22 drones had been seized and 18 operators had been given tickets in the jurisdiction.
The FBI’s New York office reminded civilians on social media that “there are severe consequences for unauthorized drone use, including fines up to $100,000, up to a year in prison, and seizure of your drone,” for violating restricted airspace in connection with the World Cup.
Previously, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told lawmakers law enforcement brought down drones that entered the airspace over the 2026 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, and the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami, Florida, in April and May, respectively.
FBI THWARTS EXPLOSIVE DRONE ATTACK AGAINST UFC FREEDOM 250 FIGHT
All of these incursions, the vast majority of which did not pose threats to the people below, represent the proliferation of drones for personal use and demonstrate the scope of the counter-drone technology needed to keep the public safe. The relatively low cost of drones also plays a significant part in the threat they pose.
“Most law enforcement agencies are not prepared for warfare, they are prepared for policing, you know, quality of life, anti-crime. They’re not prepared for warfare, and warfare literally has come to our streets,” Goldenberg said.
