Man Arrested After Piloting Drone over NFL Stadiums

Man Arrested After Piloting Drone over NFL Stadiums

A California man was arrested Sunday after he allegedly piloted a drone over two NFL stadiums in an attempt to distribute “anti-media” pamphlets to the crowds below.

A California man was arrested Sunday after he allegedly piloted a drone over two NFL stadiums in an attempt to distribute “anti-media” pamphlets to the crowds below.

The man, who was not identified, flew his drone over Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara during the game between the 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, police said. Later, he flew the drone over Oakland Coliseum during the game between the Oakland Raiders and the Denver Broncos. Reportedly, the pamphlet was a note with a red “X” on it that included some text about the First Amendment.

“It was some type of First Amendment propaganda free speech stuff,” said Lieutenant Dan Moreno of the Santa Clara Police Department. “Something about TV stations being taken over.”

It is illegal to fly a drone within five miles of an airport without authorization, and both Levi’s Stadium and the Coliseum are within five miles of airports. If a drone is flown for hobby purposes, a drone operator must notify the airport prior to flight.

The suspect will now face charges related to the violations of this federal rule as well as a local ordinance that bars drones from the skies within 500 yards of Levi’s Stadium.

“If one of them were to crash, the blades are sharp — we certainly don’t want them hitting the crowd or the players,” Moreno said. “It’s kind of up to the abilities of the drone operators, and there is no way of knowing if they know what they are doing. A stadium is not a good place to fly a drone.”

Ariana Rivera, a 49ers fan, said she found the idea of drones flying over the stadium a bit alarming.

"If they are dropping leaflets, they can drop anything really, if you think about it, and it's kind of scary to think that someone can just fly something over during the game and nobody can really stop it," Rivera said.

Authorities said the pilot’s efforts to distribute propaganda were essentially in vain, as most of the pamphlets dropped were carried away by the wind.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Security Today Announces The Govies Government Security Award Winners for 2025

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 winners in The Govies Government Security Awards. The awards honor outstanding government security products in a variety of categories. Read Now

  • Survey: 60 Percent of Organizations Using AI in IT Infrastructure

    Netwrix, a cybersecurity provider focused on data and identity threats, today announced the release of its annual global 2025 Cybersecurity Trends Report based on a global survey of 2,150 IT and security professionals from 121 countries. It reveals that 60% of organizations are already using artificial intelligence (AI) in their IT infrastructure and 30% are considering implementing AI. Read Now

  • New Research Reveals Global Video Surveillance Industry Perspectives on AI

    Axis Communications, the global industry leader in video surveillance, has released its latest research report, ‘The State of AI in Video Surveillance,’ which explores global industry perspectives on the use of AI in the security industry and beyond. The report reveals current attitudes on AI technologies thanks to in-depth interviews with AI experts from Axis’ global network and a comprehensive survey of more than 5,800 respondents, including distributors, channel partners, and end customers across 68 countries. The resulting insights cover AI integration and the opportunities and challenges that exist with regard to security, safety, business intelligence, and operational efficiency. Read Now

  • SIA Urges Tariff Relief for Security Industry Products

    Today, the Security Industry Association has sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick requesting relief from tariffs for security industry products and asking that the Trump administration formulate a process that allows companies to apply for product-specific exemptions. The security industry is an important segment of the U.S. economy, contributing over $430 billion in total economic impact and supporting over 2.1 million jobs. Read Now

  • Report Shows Cybercriminals Continue Pivot to Stealthier Tactics

    IBM recently released the 2025 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index highlighting that cybercriminals continued to pivot to stealthier tactics, with lower-profile credential theft spiking, while ransomware attacks on enterprises declined. IBM X-Force observed an 84% increase in emails delivering infostealers in 2024 compared to the prior year, a method threat actors relied heavily on to scale identity attacks. Read Now

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.