A San Francisco man has been charged in federal court with flying a drone into restricted airspace over Levi’s Stadium during an NFL game in November, an act that allegedly created serious public safety risks and violated national defense airspace rules.
In a statement Monday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California said Junwei Guo, 27, operated a drone on Nov. 9, 2025, while tens of thousands of fans were attending a game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams. At the time, the Federal Aviation Administration had imposed a temporary flight restriction barring all aircraft, including drones, from flying within 3 nautical miles of large stadiums before, during and after NFL games.
According to the criminal complaint, the restricted zone is designated as national defense airspace. Investigators alleged that Guo flew his drone as high as about 2,300 feet above ground level, a height that could interfere with aircraft and air traffic operations in the area.
Prosecutors said Guo failed to register the drone with the FAA, did not have a required remote pilot certificate, and did not receive authorization to operate in restricted airspace. He also did not meet the requirements for recreational drone use, according to court documents.
Guo is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Feb. 27 in San Jose. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000, according to federal prosecutors.