Man Pleads Guilty To Flying Drone Over Ravens-Chiefs Championship Game

BALTIMORE, MD — A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty to federal charges Thursday after he flew a drone over M&T Bank Stadium during the AFC Championship game between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, causing security to temporarily suspend the game.

Matthew Hebert, 44, of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, was ordered to serve one year of probation after he pleaded guilty to knowingly violating U.S. national defense airspace, according to court records obtained by the Baltimore Banner.

Hebert must also pay a $500 fine, the Banner reported.

According to the U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, the Federal Aviation Administration had put in place a temporary flight restriction over M&T Bank Stadium during the Jan. 28 game, which restricted certain aircraft including drones from flying within a three-nautical-mile radius of the stadium. According to prosecutors, the restriction went into effect an hour before the game started and remained in place for one hour after.

According to prosecutors, an unidentified and unapproved drone was spotted over the stadium during the game, prompting NFL security to temporarily suspend play. Maryland State Police troopers tracked the drone to the 500 block of South Sharp Street in Baltimore, where it landed. FBI agents were also called to the location to assist troopers, court documents show.

After speaking with Hebert, authorities learned he purchased the drone in 2021 and used his phone to access the DJI mobile application to fly the aircraft. The drone was not registered and Hebert did not possess a remote pilot certificate to operate it.

According to prosecutors, Hebert said he relied on the DJI mobile app to know whether he was allowed to fly the drone. He also told authorities that he assumed he was able to fly the drone during the football game because the app did not prevent him from doing so.

Court documents said Hebert flew the drone approximately 100 meters or higher for about two minutes. During the flight, prosecutors said he captured approximately six photos of himself and the stadium and may have taken video as well.

The Chiefs beat the Ravens 17-10 and later went on to win Super Bowl LVIII.