Fenway Park is one of America’s most iconic sports stadiums.
So it’s no shock that someone would want to fly their drone near the iconic stadium.
The only problem with that is that you can’t do that without permission, as one UAV operator discovered.
In a scenario very similar to what occured at Gatwick in London in winter 2018, this drone just got a little too close to a public area.
But, unlike that incident, the police actually found the pilot.
Identified only as a juvenile by BPD and CBS Boston, the authorities declined to comment further on the incident.
The drone flew close to Fenway during a packed game between the Red Sox and the Blue Jays. Fans first saw the drone at 9:20 PM and the drone left around 10:20 PM.
Finding the pilot of the UAV was a joint effort between BPD, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Massachusetts State Police, and Suffolk County DA’s Office.
Again, no one knows what fate befalls the young drone pilot but flying a drone over a stadium is no small thing.
In fact, it can result is some huge fines.
CBS Boston reports that flying a drone over a stadium without permission can result in fines up to $USD 250,000 and a maximum of three years in jail.
While we doubt that is what will happen to the young UAV pilot, the tale nonetheless serves as a cautionary notice for parents of children who own drones and adult UAV pilots alike. Failing to familiarize yourself with the law could result in hugely fines and even a prison sentence.
Most reports on the incident hint that there was no malevolent intention here, but everything is still being investigated. Regardless of that, living in an era of mass violence and unexpected terrorism it probably doesn’t hurt to assume that mysterious drones appearing at crowded public events are a public danger.
