Chadds Ford Man Charged After Flying Drone Over AFC Championship Game

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A DJI Mini 2 drone.
Image via iStock.
Matthew Herbert of Chadds Ford has been charged with flying a drone illegally over the AFC championship game.

Matthew Herbert, of Chadds Ford, who flew his drone over the AFC championship game at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium on Jan. 28, faces up to four years in federal prison for “willfully violating United States National Defense Airspace,” writes Beatrice Forman for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Herbert, 44, delayed the game for several minutes after he flew his unregistered, uncertified drone over the stadium.

The DJI Mini 2 drone quadcopter flew for about two minutes in the first quarter of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens. It took six photos and possibly a video, according to the affidavit.

NFL security paused the game while Maryland State Police and FBI agents tracked down Herbert a half-mile from the stadium where he was tailgating in a Ravens jersey.

The drone violated a temporary flight restriction in place by the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Temporary flight restrictions are always in place during large sporting events,” Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, said in a statement.

Matthew Herbert told officers he was surprised the drone could fly during the game since its software wouldn’t let it operate when flight restrictions were in place.

Find out more about when and where drones can fly in The Philadelphia Inquirer.


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