Drone Pilot Sentenced for Unauthorized Flights Over Cape Canaveral Space Force Base

A drone pilot has been sentenced for illegally flying over Cape Canaveral Space Force Base and capturing hundreds of unauthorized images and videos of sensitive U.S. military infrastructure. According to National Post, 71-year-old Xiao Guang Pan, a Chinese-born Canadian from Brampton, Ontario, pleaded guilty to federal charges earlier this year and received 12 months of probation from a U.S. district court judge. His sentencing also included a deportation order for violating American espionage laws.

Unauthorized Drone Flights Near Restricted Airspace

Court records show that Pan entered the United States on a tourist visa in November 2024 and was in Florida by early January 2025. On January 7, NASA officials detected drone activity near the Space Force base, leading local sheriff’s deputies to find Pan operating a DJI Mavic 3 Pro from the Port Canaveral parking lot. Investigators later confirmed this was at least his third consecutive day of drone operations in the restricted area.

Officials said Pan flew within Class D controlled airspace, just outside the boundary of restricted zones protecting Cape Canaveral. Over several flights, his drone captured 56 images and two videos of roads, security checkpoints, and military infrastructure, while his telephoto lens camera recorded munitions storage, launch complexes, and Navy submarine facilities from several miles away.

Forensic Analysis Contradicted His Claims

When interviewed by federal agents, Pan insisted he was photographing nature, cruise ships, and sunrises, claiming he did not realize he was near a sensitive military installation. His June plea agreement shows he told officials he had not received any drone alerts about restricted airspace.

However, forensic analysis revealed otherwise. Investigators recovered 1,919 files from his devices, including 243 still images and 13 videos that depicted sensitive Space Force infrastructure. They also found Google Maps screenshots saved to his phone, with the base name “prominently displayed.” Data logs showed multiple geofencing and airspace warnings had been issued by the DJI system, directly contradicting his statements.

READ MORE: CHINESE GRAD STUDENT CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE FOR DRONE PHOTOS OF US NAVY SHIPYARDS

Federal Charges and Deportation

In February 2025, Pan was formally charged with three counts of using an aircraft for unlawful photographing of defense installations, each carrying a maximum penalty of one year in prison and/or a $100,000 fine. After being denied a request to return to Canada for medical treatment while awaiting trial, he was ordered to remain in Florida until proceedings concluded.

On August 12, 2025, Judge Gregory Presnell sentenced Pan to probation. He was promptly deported to Canada by ICE officials and now remains barred from re-entering the United States without explicit government permission.

DroneXL’s Take

This case highlights serious national security concerns tied to unauthorized drone operations near military facilities. While Pan received probation rather than jail time, the use of a consumer drone like the DJI Mavic 3 Pro to capture sensitive defense assets underscores just how easily hobbyist technology can create security risks.

Key questions remain:

• Should geofencing systems and remote ID restrictions be further hardened around U.S. defense installations?
• Were Pan’s actions driven by negligence, curiosity, or intent to gather intelligence?
• Does this case signal the need for stronger penalties to serve as a deterrent for future incidents?

DroneXL invites readers to share their perspectives: Should probation and deportation suffice, or should drone pilots violating sensitive airspace face stricter consequences?

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.