Skip to main content

FAA makes Sunday’s Super Bowl a ‘no drone zone’

You know drones are getting popular when the Federal Aviation Administration has to ban them from the Super Bowl.

That’s right, folks, if you’ve got a ticket for the big game on Sunday and were planning on taking your DJI Phantom for a spin in the third quarter (course you were), then you’d better think again. The FAA, and the cops no doubt, won’t take too kindly to such behavior, though pinpointing you in a crowd of 70,000 may admittedly prove a bit of a challenge.

Recommended Videos

The agency in charge of the nation’s skies this week rolled out a 15-second ‘no drone zone’ video ad (above) reminding people that taking a quadcopter to Super Bowl XLIX really isn’t a good idea. In fact, drone flights will be banned within 30 miles of Glendale’s University of Phoenix Stadium – that’s right, 30 miles – from 3.25pm till midnight on Sunday.

The FAA said in a directive issued this week:

All unmanned aircraft operations – also known as drones – are prohibited within the restricted areas. These include model aircraft operations, model rocketry and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Anyone who operates an unmanned aircraft in the restricted area could face civil penalties or criminal charges.

Actually, the agency slapped restrictions on drone flights in and near stadiums last October, though the rules for Sunday cover a much wider area and last a lot longer.

The FAA has also been laying down other rules regarding the recreational use of drones, though clearly not everyone takes notice. Despite a ban on drone flights over the whole of Washington, D.C., an inebriated government worker this week crashed his remotely operated flying machine onto the lawn of the White House no less, causing a security scare in the process.

Drone flight bans around all of the nation’s airports are occasionally violated, too, a situation the FAA is keen to get under control before some blockhead accidentally sends his airborne toy into the engine of a passenger plane.

The last time we heard about a quadcopter causing havoc at a professional sports event was in Europe last year when a quadcopter flew over an international soccer game between Serbia and Albania. The incident caused a mass brawl on the field that led to the fixture being abandoned, though admittedly the drone was carrying a political banner that served to stir up tensions between soccer players from two countries with a history of strained relations.

[Source: FAA]

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.

Read more
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more