In the Police Chief Magazine Tech Talk feature titled “Multilayered Police Event Security,” Yaniv Mendelson, Director of Business Development, Echodyne, and Robert Tabbara, CEO of AirSight, explain why unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are becoming a dangerous weapon in the hands of malicious actors who want to wreak havoc at large events. Affordable and easily accessible, the small, agile aircraft could usher in a new generation of crime at public events such as sports matches, Mendelson warns. 

Recent events already point to the growing threat of drone incidents at large scale public events. National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the U.S. Congress in December 2024 to warn of the risks of unauthorized drones flying near stadiums. 

“Whether they are acting out of malice or just have a penchant for mischievousness, individuals are using these easy-to-procure aircraft to break the rules, cause delays in games, and spread panic.”

The Problem

• Official NFL statistics show that there were 2,845 drone flights which entered restricted air space in 2023, up from 2,537 in 2022.
• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bans drones from flying below 3,000 feet above ground level within a three-mile radius of stadiums with a seating capacity of 30,000 or more
• Drone operators ignore these rules, whether out of mischief or malice