Super Bowl to be a ‘no-drone zone’

The FAA has warned supporters of the ban, which will be in place from 14.00 and 11.59 PST, in a YouTube video which can be seen below. FAA regulations have also stated that, what it calls ‘deadly force’ could be used if a perceived security threat is detected – although that of course only applies to the drone itself and not its operator!

In the last 18 months there have been several high profile incidents where drones have caused havoc at sporting events, including two crashes – one which nearly collided into world cup skier Marcel Hirscher during an event in Italy, and another at the US Open Tennis Tournament in September when a drone crashed into a section of empty seats during a match between Flavia Pennetta and Monica Niculescu.

As such, it is commonplace in the US for there to be no-fly zones over major sporting and entertainment events, as there are permanently over sensitive sites such as the White House. The FAA even sent out a Tweet to remind fans of the rules, stating ‘Bring a game face to the #SuperBowl but leave your drone at home. #SB50 is a #NoDroneZone.’

The FAA has also stated that anyone violating these restrictions would be liable to a substantial fine or could even be detained by law enforcement officers. “With so many drones being sold for recreational use, we want to do everything we can to get the word out that the game is a no-drone zone,” FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said in a statement. “We’re working closely with our safety and security partners to spread this message as widely as possible.”