FAA Investigating Drone Incursion at Thursday Night NFL Game

The incident was the latest in a series of drone-related intrusions over American pro sports stadiums, worrying NFL officials and U.S. lawmakers alike.

Jack Daleo

Friday, November 17, 2023 at 04:14 PM ET

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A game at M&T Bank Stadium, home to the Baltimore Ravens, was halted twice because of a rogue drone. [Courtesy: Joey Pulone/Baltimore Ravens]

Key Takeaways:

Unauthorized drone incursions are a growing problem at NFL games and other large venues, leading to game delays and significant safety concerns.
The NFL and U.S. lawmakers are increasingly worried about the potential for drones to cause harm, whether through collision or by carrying dangerous payloads.
Current federal law severely limits who can mitigate rogue drones, with authority primarily resting with the FBI and DHS, and this authority is set to expire.
Bipartisan efforts are underway to pass legislation that would extend and expand counter-drone authority to state and local law enforcement, a change the NFL views as crucial for protecting mass gatherings.

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Close to two years ago, an unwelcome visitor to an NFL playoff game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders briefly drew fans’ eyes away from the action on the playing field and up to the skies. The culprit? A small drone.

Perhaps the Bengals are simply unlucky. Because this week, the team’s game against its divisional rival the Baltimore Ravens on Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football was halted not just once, but twice, by another drone. The stoppage was the latest in a rising number of drone-related incursions at NFL stadiums that have worried league officials and U.S. lawmakers alike.