Cessna Buzzes Football Game, FAA Not Pleased

Quote:

FAA reviewing football fly-over
EMILY S. ACHENBAUM
[email protected]

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a fly-over prank at the Hopewell High football game Friday night.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said someone flew a single-engine Cesna 172 over the football field at 8 p.m. Friday.

Witnesses said the plane may have been as low as 75 feet above the stands, she said. The FAA requires an altitude of at least 1,000 feet when flying over a large group of people. Witnesses also reported that footballs were tossed from the plane, Bergen said. Dropping items from a plane is also against FAA rules, Bergen said.

Bergen said if the FAA finds the pilot broke FAA rules, then the pilot's license could be suspended or revoked.

The pilot's name was not released. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said the pilot is believed to be a Hopewell student.