Mexican national charged with flying drone near Dallas Stadium during World Cup
Another man has been charged with operating an unregistered drone in restricted airspace around Dallas Stadium during the FIFA World Cup, federal attorneys said Friday.
Cristobal Torres Alvarez, 40, of Mexico, was charged June 29 with operating as an airman without an airman’s certificate, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in North Texas.
Alvarez is accused of flying his unregistered DJI Mini 4 PRO drone around the stadium while the airspace was under a temporary flight restriction, officials said. The airspace remains under that restriction starting three hours before and ending three hours after each match played in Arlington.
In order to have legally operated the drone, Alvarez must have obtained an airman’s certificate and a waiver, among other requirements, according to the statement.
During the five World Cup games held in Arlington to this point, officials have seized over 70 drones as part of a counter-surveillance operation, the statement reads.
If convicted, Alvarez faces up to three years in federal prison.
