ExtremeRavens Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 A Pennsylvania man faces up to four years in federal prison for flying a drone over M&T Bank Stadium during the first quarter of the AFC championship game. NFL security temporarily suspended the game, and Maryland State Police tracked the movement of the drone from directly over the stadium to a landing spot about half a mile away in the 500 block of South Sharp Street, where FBI agents and state police located 44-year-old Matthew Hebert, according to a news release. “Temporary flight restrictions are always in place during large sporting events,” United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron said in a news release. A temporary flight restriction issued by the Federal Aviation Administration outlawed drones operating within a three nautical mile radius of the stadium starting an hour before kickoff and lasting until an hour after the final whistle, according to the news release. The drone was not registered, and Herbert did not have a remote pilot certification to operate it, according to the news release. Herbert told officers that in the past, the application he uses to operate the drone warned him of flight restrictions but offered no such warning during the game, according to an affidavit. Hebert allegedly flew the drone approximately 100 meters or higher for around two minutes, taking six photos and possibly a video. If convicted, Hebert faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison for knowingly operating an unregistered drone and for knowingly serving as an airman without an airman’s certificate and a maximum of one year in federal prison for willfully violating United States National Defense Airspace, according to the news release, which also notes actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. An initial appearance and arraignment will be scheduled later this month. “Operating a drone requires users to act responsibly and educate themselves on when and how to use them safely,” said FBI agent R. Joseph Rothrock of the Baltimore Field Office said in the news release.. “The FBI would like to remind the public of the potential dangers of operating a drone in violation of federal laws and regulations.” View the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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