A 26-year-old Texas man is facing charges for illegally operating a drone near a World Cup event in Houston. John Alexander Meza allegedly flew a DJI Mavic 3 in restricted airspace without a remote pilot license and without checking for flight restrictions. His drone was also not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Restricted Airspace

The FAA has established “national defense airspace” around stadiums and official fan events, designating them as “no drone zones” for security reasons. The restricted airspace includes a 3-nautical-mile radius and up to 3,000 feet above ground level around 11 stadiums hosting World Cup matches, including SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Levi’s Stadium in the Bay Area, and AT&T Stadium near Dallas-Fort Worth.

Drone operators who enter the restricted airspace without authorization can face fines of up to $100,000, drone confiscation, loss of a remote license, and federal criminal charges. The FBI has seized over 500 drones since the start of the World Cup, with many of the seizures occurring in cities hosting World Cup events, including Los Angeles, Miami, and Dallas.

Enforcement Efforts

The FAA is using every available tool to protect the airspace, including stronger drone-enforcement efforts. The agency has updated its enforcement policy to require legal action when drone operations endanger the public, violate airspace restrictions, or are conducted in furtherance of another crime.

Drone operators can check for temporary flight restrictions on the FAA’s website and through the B4UFLY app. The app provides information on restricted airspace and can warn pilots if they are about to take off in a restricted area.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.