A man from Maryland is facing three federal felony charges due to the unlawful operation of a drone during the wild-card playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 11.

Alex Perez Suarez, aged 43 and originally from Baltimore, is accused of flying an unregistered drone above M&T Bank Stadium when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had imposed temporary flight restrictions on the area, as stated in an affidavit reviewed by YSL News reporters.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland explained that temporary flight restrictions are a “standard practice for stadiums or sporting venues” hosting outdoor events. The affidavit further clarified that these restrictions usually remain in effect from one hour before the event starts until one hour after it ends.

During the third quarter of the game, Suarez’s drone was spotted flying over M&T Bank Stadium, capturing seven images of the venue and reaching an altitude of approximately 400 feet. The presence of the drone prompted NFL security to momentarily halt the game, causing a short delay.

The FAA has a strict no-tolerance policy regarding drones or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in its “No-Drone Zone,” as emphasized by Maryland’s U.S. Attorney’s Office. Consequently, Suarez is facing three federal charges based on Title 49 U.S.C., detailed in the affidavit as follows:

• Knowingly and willfully operating an unregistered aircraft that is required to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration;
• Knowingly and willfully operating an aircraft without a valid airman’s certificate when one is necessary;
• Knowing or willfully violating national defense airspace.

Suarez claimed that he bought the UAS for fun but mentioned its use for work purposes as well. The drone was not registered, and investigators reported that Suarez acknowledged he did not have a Remote Pilot Certificate needed to operate it.

If convicted, Suarez could face up to three years in federal prison for knowingly operating an unregistered UAS and for acting as an airman without an official certificate, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Additionally, he could face a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison for willfully breaching United States National Defense Airspace.

“We take temporary flight restrictions very seriously,” U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron stated. “Any unauthorized entry into restricted airspace, particularly near sporting and entertainment events like the Super Bowl, will be prosecuted.”