Officials in Boston are searching for the owner of a drone that flew above Fenway Park during a Red Sox game Thursday, which sparked alarm but was able to hover in position for nearly an hour before it departed.
According to CBS Boston, the drone first appeared around 9:30 p.m. It stayed above the game between the Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays until roughly 10:20 p.m.
"There is an active investigation with the FAA and the BPD. That's all I can tell you at this time but as soon as we get something, we'll definitely let you know because we want to send a clear cut message to everyone that there is no authorized flying of drones or any major event at all," Boston Police commissioner William Gross said Friday.
The Federal Aviation Administration told the news station that it's against federal law to operate drones near a sporting event.
"Flying drones in and around stadiums is prohibited starting one hour before and ending one hour after a scheduled game and prohibited within a radius of three nautical miles of the stadium," the agency said.
Violating the law comes with potential fines that can hit $250,000 and up to three years in prison.
The use of private drones at public gatherings is a cause for concern because of the potential for them to be used as a weapon. Armed drones have been employed against U.S. and coalition forces in the Middle East, for example. Local, state, and federal law enforcement officials have put in place rules that restrict drones from flying in certain areas around sporting events and federal buildings, including the White House.
Monday is the Boston Marathon, an annual event that was marred in 2013 by a terror attack involving homemade bombs placed near the finish line.
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