Georgia – A Decatur admitted to breaking federal aviation law by flying a drone over Truist Park during the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Authorities claim this placed public safety at risk during one of the biggest athletic events in the area.
On December 5, 2025, Mitchell Parsons Hughes, 47, admitted to willfully breaking the rules of restricted airspace by flying an unmanned aircraft system over the stadium during the game on July 15, 2025. U.S. Magistrate Judge Russell Vineyard gave him six months on probation and told him to pay a $500 fine.
According to the Department of Justice, that the Federal Aviation Administration had set up a temporary flight restriction over Truist Park for the All-Star Game, making it a tight No Drone Zone. The regulation said that drones and other aircraft couldn’t fly within one nautical mile of the stadium from one hour before the game until one hour after it ended. These kinds of rules are common for big college and professional sports events throughout the country.
Hughes flew a drone right over the stadium, even though these limitations were in place. Court records show that he had been notified about the flight limits through the drone’s control system, but he went ahead regardless. Hughes also admitted that his drone wasn’t registered and that he didn’t have the right training, license, or remote pilot certificate to fly it legally.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg made it clear that these rules must be followed. He noted that flight limits are meant to keep people safe at big events and those who live nearby. He also said that anyone who fly drones illegally should be ready to face the law. Federal officials also mentioned the FIFA World Cup and other big events coming up as times when airspace safety will still be very important.
FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown said that flying a drone is the same as flying a plane and that doing things that are not safe can interfere with security operations and put the public at risk.
The FBI and the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General led the investigation, with help from the FAA and the Cobb County Police Department.
