Planning to fly a drone during the FIFA World Cup 2026? The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just released a list of locations where that could become a very expensive mistake, with unauthorized operators facing penalties of up to $100,000 and possible criminal prosecution.

The Federal Aviation Administration is rolling out a new program designed to crack down faster on drone rule violations, especially as the US prepares for a packed summer of high-profile events like the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches.

The next time a rogue drone strays into restricted US airspace, especially along the southern border, it may be taken down by a beam of light traveling at the speed of physics. And according to federal regulators, that futuristic response won’t put airline passengers at risk.

The FAA is being challenged on a recent flight restriction that banned drone flights over all government buildings and mobile assets. The lawsuit is being managed by The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and is challenging it on both First Amendment and Administrative Procedure Act violations.

Fly your drone in the wrong place in the US, and it could cost you more than just your gear. It could hit your wallet with fines exceeding $100,000, and even land you behind bars.

The Federal Aviation Administration is taking a major step toward tackling illegal and unauthorized drone operations, rolling out a new tool designed to give law enforcement real-time clarity on who’s flying in US airspace, and whether they’re doing it legally.

A new heavy-lift drone built in the United States is getting ready to take on some of the toughest jobs in the sky, thanks to a key regulatory green light.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is making one thing clear in 2026: if you fly a drone recklessly, expect consequences. The FAA fined multiple drone operators and suspended or revoked several remote pilot licenses in recent months over unsafe and unauthorized flights. The violations ranged from flying near emergency response aircraft during wildfires to operating over packed NFL games and major music festivals. And the penalties aren’t small.

Air travelers in West Texas went to bed Tuesday night with no warning, and woke up to find a major American airport effectively shut down. In a move that stunned local officials, airlines, and even parts of the federal government, the Federal Aviation Administration abruptly halted flights in and out of El Paso International Airport late Tuesday, citing “special security reasons.” The 10-mile airspace restriction — stretching up to 18,000 feet — was initially set to last 10 days. Instead, it lasted about seven and a half hours. By sunrise Wednesday, flights were back on schedule. But the questions were just beginning.

A Georgia drone pilot ignored a no-fly warning, launched anyway, and ended up with a federal criminal conviction. That’s the short version of what happened when Mitchell Parsons Hughes flew a drone over Truist Park during the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in July 2025, despite the stadium being protected by a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR). For drone pilots across the US, the case is a blunt reminder that flying into restricted airspace isn’t a minor slip-up; it’s a federal offense.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a brand-new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) system, marking the first major overhaul of the decades-old service that alerts pilots — including drone operators — to temporary airspace restrictions, hazards, and flight disruptions. The modernized platform, called the NOTAM Management Service (NMS), is designed to be faster, more reliable, and cloud-based, arriving months ahead of schedule after years of outages and frustration with the legacy system.

If you fly a DJI drone in the United States for professional purposes, buckle up: the Federal Aviation Administration’s new draft rule, FAA Part 108, could dramatically alter the way you operate. On paper, Part 108 is meant to finally normalize routine beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights at scale, a move many in the drone industry have been waiting for years. But as written, it could shut out much of the existing DJI fleet, or any other non-US-made drone that American pilots actually use every day.

In a landmark move that could reshape the skies, the US Department of Transportation, under Secretary Sean P. Duffy, has proposed a sweeping new rule that would finally normalize Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations — a long-awaited milestone for the commercial drone industry. The draft rule, introduced as Part 108, is being hailed as a transformative framework that will allow drones to operate beyond the operator’s visual range without the need for individual waivers.

Standing in front of thousands of aviators at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy declared that “we’re unleashing American ingenuity” as he unveiled the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) final rule on July 22. Although the 717‑page regulation is aimed squarely at manned Light‑Sport Aircraft (LSA), many of the ideas baked into MOSAIC — performance‑based standards, expanded aerial‑work privileges, and a friendlier path to novel propulsion systems — echo the very reforms drone makers and pilots have been lobbying for.

After months of waiting, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finally has a permanent leader. And for the drone industry, this appointment couldn’t come at a more crucial time.

The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced that the individual who flew his drone over an NFL stadium back in January has pleaded guilty to violating national defense airspace. While the list is small, this adds to the slowly growing list of cases where bad drone operators are finally getting punished for their crimes.

A new bill that was quietly introduced in the Senate this month could reshape how, where, and even if you can fly your drone in the U.S. Introduced as the Drone Integration and Zoning Act (S.1249), the bill seeks to allow local governments the right to regulate drone flights below 200 feet.

If you’re vacationing near the Jersey Shore and notice a swarm of drones overhead, don’t panic — it’s all part of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) experiment. From April 14 to 25, the FAA is conducting a large-scale drone detection test near New Jersey’s Cape May Ferry Terminal, aiming to enhance airspace safety.​

What was meant to be an electrifying NFL Wild Card showdown at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore turned into a legal nightmare for one drone pilot. A Maryland man, Alexis Perez Suarez, 43, is now facing federal felony charges after allegedly flying a drone over the packed stadium during the January 11, 2025, playoff game.

It was a reckless decision with serious consequences. Peter Tripp Akemann, a 56-year-old Los Angeles resident, has pleaded guilty to crashing his drone into a Super Scooper firefighting aircraft battling the Palisades Fire last month. According to the US Attorney’s Office, the former president of Skydance Interactive entered his plea to a federal class-A misdemeanor count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft. This misdemeanor carries a potential one-year federal prison sentence. Akemann’s sentencing has been set for June 2.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted DroneDeploy a nationwide waiver for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations, allowing the company to oversee large-scale construction projects remotely. Expectedly, the use of autonomous drones for monitoring critical infrastructure across the US can go up significantly.

In the bustling cityscape of Philadelphia, one man’s aerial adventures have come crashing down to earth. Michael DiCiurcio, the face behind the popular YouTube channel “PhillyDroneLife,” has been permanently grounded following a federal court’s consent judgment against him for reckless drone operations.

California’s Elk Grove Police Department (EGPD) is officially soaring to new heights — literally. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted EGPD a groundbreaking Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver, making them the first law enforcement agency in the US to fly drones at 400 feet across an entire city — without human spotters.

As Super Bowl LIX approaches, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has designated the Caesars Superdome and surrounding areas in New Orleans as a ‘No Drone Zone’ to ensure the safety and security of attendees and participants. Unauthorized drone operations in these restricted zones can lead to severe penalties, including drone confiscation, fines up to $75,000, and potential criminal prosecution.

Welcome to The Buzz, a weekly roundup of news about consumer, enterprise, and defense uses for drones. For now, it’s in a written format, but soon there will be a return to our weekly podcast format. This week was a big week for controversies; between the investigation of the LA fire’s drone crash, Red Cat’s potential fraud, and DJI dropping No-Fly Zones, there was a lot.