A joker who found it amusing to disrupt the AFC Championship game by maneuvering his unmanned aerial system into the stadium during the match is about to regret not being able to make a swift getaway on it. As per legal documents, the Department of Justice and the FBI are proposing a prison sentence of FOUR YEARS for various offenses, including breaching the U.S. National Defense Airspace.
In the words of Ron Burdgundy, “Well, that escalated rapidly.”
An aerial drone brought the AFC Championship game between the Chiefs and Ravens to a standstill. Now, the individual responsible is facing several years behind bars. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
On January 28, Matthew Hebet, aged 45, operated the drone above Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium during the Chiefs’ visit to the Ravens. In the first quarter, the game was briefly interrupted for what was described as an “administrative timeout.” Hebet piloted the unmanned aerial system, which is a technical term for a drone, for approximately two minutes at an altitude of around 100 meters or higher. During this time, he captured photos and videos of the field and stadium. Surprisingly, it wasn’t Connor Stallions controlling the device!
However, the Maryland state police closely monitored the drone, and Hebet, the mastermind, ended up flying it back to his own residence. Within minutes, law enforcement officers from the state police and FBI forcefully entered his home as part of the search. Apparently, Hebet was unaware that most sporting events have a temporary flight restriction starting one hour before the game and lasting until one hour after its conclusion. The no-fly zone extends for three nautical miles, which is a bit more than what Hebet needed to capture close-ups of Patrick Mahomes on the sideline preparing to defeat the Ravens.
Drone operator.
I’m certain Hebet had quite the challenge explaining to his employer that he may not be available for the next four years because he thought it would be enjoyable to operate his small toy gadget during the game.
For those who haven’t been paying attention, we now reside in a society where mugging a group of NYPD officers earns you a complimentary dinner and freedom without having to pay a single dollar for bail.
But if you decide to fly a $350 drone and allow it to hover at an NFL game?
Prepare yourself for being deprived of the open skies for 22 hours a day in the foreseeable future.