The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is flying a specialized aircraft at low altitudes over Fair Park, the Cotton Bowl, and downtown Dallas today, Wednesday, June 3, as part of security and emergency preparedness for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The flights are using the EPA’s ASPECT system — Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology — to collect baseline radiation data and map the area’s normal environmental conditions. Similar flights are also scheduled for June 28 and July 13. The aircraft will operate over downtown Dallas, Fair Park/Cotton Bowl, and parts of Arlington near AT&T Stadium.
Dallas officials issued a public notice Tuesday to alert residents that the low-flying plane may be visible and louder than typical air traffic. The surveys are routine for major events and help emergency responders establish background radiation levels in case of any future incident.
#DALLAS - For Public Awareness: In preparation for the World Cup, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be flying an aircraft at low altitudes to survey the areas over Fair Park/Cotton Bowl and downtown #Dallas on Wednesday, June 3.#CityOfDallas pic.twitter.com/RUAJ304Yzw
— City of Dallas (@CityOfDallas) June 2, 2026
Fair Park and the Cotton Bowl are key venues for the World Cup, hosting Fan Fest activities and serving as a central gathering point for fans. Dallas will host nine matches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington between June 14 and July 14, 2026, making it one of the busiest host cities.
The EPA conducts these types of missions across the country ahead of large-scale public events to support local, state, and federal partners with real-time environmental monitoring capabilities. No public safety concerns have been raised, and the flights are not expected to disrupt normal activities beyond temporary noise.
City of Dallas officials emphasized that the operation is precautionary and part of broader World Cup planning that includes enhanced security, traffic management, and emergency response coordination.
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