As Super Bowl week ramps up in the Bay Area, so is the security surrounding the event. In the days leading up to kickoff, helicopters and aircraft from multiple federal agencies will be in the skies, carrying out routine and highly specialized national security preparations.
Super Bowl Security Includes Nuclear Sweeps Of Bay Area
Chief among them are low-altitude helicopter flights conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). According to federal and local officials, the flights are designed to measure normal background radiation levels across the region ahead of Super Bowl LX, allowing authorities to quickly identify anything out of the ordinary.
San Francisco getting it's first Nuke scan before the Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/4CQ9IoZHTR
— Joe (@0xosprey) February 2, 2026
The surveys are being flown by the NNSA’s Nuclear Emergency Support Team, a counterterrorism unit that routinely deploys to major national events. The team uses a Leonardo AW139 helicopter equipped with radiation-sensing technology capable of detecting even small changes in radiation levels from the air.
Officials have emphasized that the flights are standard procedure and not connected to any known threat.
“These aerial radiation surveys are a normal and routine part of security and emergency preparedness activities,” the agency said, noting the public notice is intended to prevent alarm if residents see helicopters flying unusually low.
The radiation surveys are just one piece of a much larger security operation surrounding the Super Bowl. The Federal Aviation Administration and FBI are also enforcing sweeping temporary flight restrictions across Santa Clara and San Francisco, including strict “no-drone zones” around Levi’s Stadium and major event venues throughout the week.
Drone Ban Will Be In Effect During The Big Game
Unauthorized drone flights could result in fines up to $75,000, confiscation of equipment and potential federal charges. In some areas, airspace restrictions extend up to 2,000 feet above ground level, while on Super Bowl Sunday the protected airspace around Levi’s Stadium will expand dramatically, stretching out as far as 30 nautical miles with altitude limits nearing 18,000 feet.
The FBI has confirmed it will deploy full counter-drone capabilities for the event, one of the few times such measures are used domestically. Those systems allow authorities to detect, track and assess unauthorized aircraft that could pose risks to public safety or critical infrastructure.
Local officials have also worked to calm unrelated fears surrounding the increased federal presence. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan publicly addressed rumors of heightened immigration enforcement during Super Bowl week, stating that all visiting law enforcement agencies are focused solely on public safety.
