Drone Pilot Charged After Flying Over Levi's Stadium

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Federal prosecutors have charged a San Francisco man suspected of violating national defense airspace by flying a drone over Levi’s Stadium during a San Francisco 49ers game, a move authorities say posed serious public safety and aviation risks.

According to a federal criminal complaint filed Tuesday, Junwei Guo, 27, flew a drone within a three-nautical-mile temporary flight restriction imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration during the Nov. 9, 2025, matchup between the 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams.

Temporary flight restrictions apply to NFL games. These zones are temporarily classified as national defense airspace, barring all aircraft—including drones—before, during, and after events, according to federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors claim that Guo flew the drone as high as 2,300 feet without registering it, holding an FAA remote pilot certificate, or obtaining authorization to operate in restricted airspace. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in San Jose on Feb. 27, and faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted.