TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of flying a drone near the location of Super Bowl LV, a violation of Federal Aviation Administration restrictions, federal officials said.
Henry Alejandro Jimenez, 33, of Orlando, was charged with violating national defense airspace, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court.
Jimenez faces up to one year in federal prison and fines that could exceed $30,000, according to The Associated Press.
The FAA this week imposed a temporary airspace restriction for areas near downtown Tampa as part of security measures leading up to Sunday’s game at Raymond James Stadium, which pits the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Kansas City Chiefs. That area includes the Riverwalk area of Tampa, the FAA said.
On Wednesday, two FBI agents spotted a drone flying in the Riverwalk area, the Tampa Bay Times reported. According to the criminal complaint, the agents found Jimenez standing on a sidewalk operating a remote-control device attached to an iPhone, the newspaper reported.
Agents told Jimenez to land the drone, which he did.
Jimenez, who is a licensed drone pilot, told authorities that he was aware of the airspace restrictions and had received a warning on his iPhone about the violation, the Times reported.
According to the complaint, Jimenez received two options: “I am qualified to fly in this zone,” and “I agree to bear full responsibility for my flight in this zone.”
Jimenez opted for the second choice, according to the complaint.
A review of the drone’s flight path showed it had traveled over a Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, which was hosting public events related to Super Bowl LV, according to the AP. Investigators said Jimenez operated his drone without maintaining uninterrupted visual contact, as required by FAA regulations.
The FAA’s news release noted that the agency was restricting drone flights for approximately two nautical miles around Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park up to an altitude of 2,000 feet until Saturday during event hours.
On Super Sunday, drones are prohibited within a 30-nautical-mile radius of Raymond James Stadium up to 18,000 feet in altitude. The temporary flight restriction will be in effect Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. ET.
Drones are also prohibited for one nautical mile around Raymond James Stadium on Sunday from 10 a.m. until the temporary flight restriction goes into effect, the FAA stated.
Cox Media Group
