Fighter jets will patrol World Cup airspace over Toronto
Canadian and U.S. military will monitor skies above Toronto and Vancouver during FIFA matches, with a practice interception drill set for June 8.
Combat aircraft — likely armed with missiles and machine guns — will patrol overhead during World Cup matches at Toronto Stadium and other Canadian venues, protecting against airborne threats.
The deployment is standard practice for major events attended by presidents or heads of state, but less common in North American civilian airspace. U.S. Air Force General Gregory Guillot told CBC News the mission is straightforward: "air patrol overhead to make sure that no aircraft with nefarious intent could get in there and interfere with the games."
Canadian and U.S. military personnel will monitor continental airspace from NORAD bunkers in Colorado and Peterson Space Force Base. A practice interception is scheduled for June 8, when two Canadian fighter jets will force a contracted small jet to land at Billy Bishop Airport, just west of downtown.
The Canadian Armed Forces installed a temporary air surveillance radar in Grimsby, Ontario to give controllers a sharper picture of aircraft near the Greater Toronto Area, including drones. Flying drones near stadiums is prohibited; the RCMP will enforce the ban and can force drones to return to their launch point electronically.