Asheville Police Drone Flies 20×30-Foot American Flag At NFL Stadium, Claims League Record

The Asheville Police Department’s drone unit flew what they claim is the largest American flag ever carried by a drone at an NFL stadium during the Carolina Panthers’ first responders’ day on November 9, 2025, according to local reports.

The heavy-lift drone carried a massive 20-by-30-foot American flag over Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte during the national anthem before the Panthers faced the New Orleans Saints.

Historic Display or Unverified Claim?

APD posted on social media that the flight marked “the first time in NFL history a flag of this size has been flown in this way.” The department flew the 600-square-foot flag during a game dedicated to honoring first responders and veterans.

The technical achievement is noteworthy. A nylon flag measuring 20 by 30 feet typically weighs between 25 and 35 pounds (11-16 kg), requiring a specialized heavy-lift drone platform to carry it safely over a packed stadium.

While APD claims an NFL record, neither the league nor independent aviation authorities have verified this designation. The department did not disclose which specific drone model was used for the operation.

Asheville’s Expanding Drone Program

The Asheville Police Department operates one of the nation’s most advanced drone programs. The department received the first-ever FAA Beyond Visual Line of Sight waiver in January 2025, allowing single-officer drone operations anywhere within city limits.

Since launching in October 2022, APD’s fleet has grown from six drones to 19 aircraft, with access to 14 additional drones owned by private community partners.

The program cost $83,000 in its first year and employs 15 FAA-certified pilots.

Stadium Airspace Challenge

Flying drones near NFL stadiums requires navigating strict FAA restrictions. Federal regulations prohibit all flights below 3,000 feet (914 meters) within 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of stadiums during games, creating a complex regulatory environment for authorized operations.

The fact that APD successfully coordinated this flight demonstrates significant planning and FAA cooperation. Stadium drone operations remain controversial, with unauthorized flights causing game delays at Baltimore Ravens games and prompting new federal legislation to combat drone threats at sporting events.

Heavy-lift drones capable of this operation include platforms like the DJI FlyCart 30 (66-pound capacity) and Draganfly Heavy Lift Drone (66-pound capacity), though APD has not confirmed which model was deployed.

DroneXL’s Take

This patriotic display represents an interesting shift in the narrative around police drone programs. While approximately 1,500 U.S. law enforcement agencies now operate drone programs—a 150% increase since 2018—most public attention focuses on surveillance concerns rather than ceremonial applications.

Asheville’s program has faced persistent criticism for lack of transparency. Blue Ridge Public Radio documented that the department waited nearly a year before publicly announcing the drone program’s existence, and promised transparency dashboards showing flight logs have never materialized.

The timing of this high-profile patriotic display is notable. Just months after receiving unprecedented FAA authority, the department is showcasing drones in their most positive light—honoring first responders at a major sporting event rather than surveilling protests or tracking suspects.

From a technical standpoint, successfully flying a 30-pound flag over a packed NFL stadium demonstrates real operational capability. The flight required coordinating with the FAA, local authorities and the Panthers organization. The precision needed to position that large a flag during the national anthem—accounting for wind, prop wash, and crowd safety—shouldn’t be dismissed.

But the unverified “NFL record” claim deserves scrutiny. Without independent confirmation from the league or aviation record-keeping organizations, it’s impossible to verify whether this truly represents a first. The specific phrasing—”largest American flag ever flown by a drone at a National Football League stadium”—leaves considerable room for interpretation.

This mirrors broader patterns we’ve tracked in law enforcement drone adoption. Departments invest heavily in capability, face community pushback over surveillance, then highlight positive applications to build public support. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota recently committed $4.6 million to a Drone as First Responder program following a high-profile manhunt, while Rochester police secured $8 million for drones explicitly to monitor protests.

The real question isn’t whether flying a giant flag is technically impressive—it is. It’s whether these expensive, powerful surveillance tools serve legitimate public safety needs or primarily function as political theater and crowd control infrastructure. When departments won’t publish promised flight logs but will fly flags at NFL games, priorities become clear.

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