There wasn’t much of an air attack in the recent Panthers-Chiefs preseason game, but there was a later-identified flying object hovering over Bank of America Stadium that night.
According to Mark Washburn of the Charlotte Observer, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said the operator of the camera-wielding drone was detained and questioned, with the information turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Witnesses said they saw the drone late in the game, until lights from a helicopter hit it and then it disappeared behind a nearby building.
Airspace over stadiums is banned by both the NFL and (more importantly) the FAA. The FAA considers stadiums and major airports as Class B airspace, which is among the most restricted, and unmanned aircraft are prohibited.
A team spokesman said they weren’t aware of the drone until asked by reporters.
While there was no report of charges filed, the incident represents a security breach that aviation officials need to pay close attention to.