Honduran Man Charged with Illegal Drone Operation Before FIFA World Cup Match

A Honduran man was charged this week with piloting an unregistered drone over the restricted airspace over Dallas Stadium before a FIFA World Cup match.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas issued a press release about the criminal complaint on Thursday.

According to the release, 33-year-old Luis Mauricio Flores Ordonez was charged via criminal complaint with owning and operating an unregistered aircraft on June 15.

Authorities allege that Flores Ordonez flew his unregistered drone, a DJI Mini 3 Pro, in the flight-restricted airspace around Dallas Stadium while a temporary flight restriction was in effect.

To legally operate his drown within this flight-restricted airspace, Flores Ordonez should have registered his drone with the Federal Aviation Administration and have been a Part 107-licensed pilot with a current certificate, among other requirements.

Interception of Flores Ordonez's drone operation was part of the FBI's drone counter-surveillance efforts for the FIFA World Cup match at Dallas Stadium that afternoon.

During the two FIFA World Cup games held in Arlington so far, police have seized over 20 drones. The FBI would like to once again state that there is a "no-fly zone" around the stadium for three hours prior to each match and three hours after match.

As a reminder, it is a federal crime to fly a drone into a "no-fly zone." If convicted, Flores Ordonez could face up to three years in federal prison.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you operate a drone over restricted airspace—including over Dallas Stadium or Fan Fest—you can expect a federal indictment to come your way like this defendant," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould.