Residents in parts of Dallas and Arlington may spot a low-flying aircraft on several dates this summer as federal officials prepare for the World Cup.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will fly a specialized aircraft at low altitude over parts of Dallas and Arlington to measure normal background radiation levels before the FIFA World Cup kicks off and ahead of some games.
The flights are part of security and emergency preparedness planning, not because officials have detected a threat or radiation problem, according to a press release.
Residents may notice a low-flying aircraft over downtown Dallas, Fair Park, the Cotton Bowl and AT&T Stadium on June 3, June 28 and July 13.
The plane is collecting baseline environmental data, specifically normal radiological readings, according to the EPA. Having a baseline allows authorities to quickly identify unusual radiation levels if an emergency or security incident were to occur during World Cup events.
The operation is being coordinated with the FBI, Homeland Security, local governments and World Cup organizers as part of broader security preparations.
No information about the exact altitude and how long each flight will last was provided, nor whether the public will be able to access any of the data collected.
The city of Dallas directed all questions to the EPA. The EPA did not respond to a request for comment before the time of publication.