Videographer Faces Jail Time for Drone Flight During World Cup
On June 11, the inaugural day of the 2026 World Cup, John Alexander Meza, a 26-year-old videographer and cinematographer, flew a DJI Mavic 3 drone for two minutes to capture footage of First Baptist Church in East Downtown Houston. Although no games took place in the city that day, a large crowd gathered for the World Cup fan festival, and the FAA had established a temporary 'no drone zone' prohibiting flights within a one-mile radius up to 1,000 feet. Meza, lacking a remote pilot certificate and failing to verify airspace restrictions, was arrested by the FBI for breaching national defense airspace. He is among 16 individuals facing federal charges for unauthorized drone flights during the World Cup, where the FBI confiscated 44 drones in Houston and over 700 nationwide.
Key facts
- John Alexander Meza, 26, faces up to one year in prison and $100,000 in fines for flying a drone during the World Cup.
- Meza flew a DJI Mavic 3 for two minutes to film First Baptist Church in East Downtown Houston on June 11, 2026.
- The flight occurred on the first day of the 2026 World Cup, though no matches were held in Houston that day.
- The FAA had designated East Downtown Houston as a temporary 'no drone zone' for the World Cup, banning flights within a one-mile radius up to 1,000 feet.
- Meza did not hold a remote pilot certificate and had not checked airspace restrictions before flying.
- He was arrested by the FBI and charged with violating national defense airspace.
- Meza is one of up to 16 people facing federal charges for drone flights in Houston during the World Cup.
- The FBI seized 44 drones in Houston and over 700 illegal drones overall, detecting almost 1,600 around the 11 U.S. stadiums.
Entities
Artists
- John Alexander Meza
Institutions
- FBI
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- First Baptist Church
- Houston Public Media
- PetaPixel
Locations
- Houston
- Texas
- United States
- East Downtown Houston
- Live Oak Street