Drone Pilot Charged After Flying Over “Second Pentagon”

A drone pilot in Maryland is now facing federal charges after allegedly flying over one of the most sensitive military sites in the United States and posting the footage to his YouTube channel, as FOX Baltimore reports.

According to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court for Maryland, Stuart Dale Bennett was identified by the FBI after a military official flagged a video showing a drone flight over the Raven Rock Mountain Complex, a hardened underground military installation often referred to as the “second Pentagon.”

That nickname is not media exaggeration. Raven Rock was built in 1954 during the Cold War as a continuity of government facility, designed to function as a backup command center to the Pentagon in the event of a nuclear attack.

Officially called the Alternate Joint Communications Center, the site remains active and operational today, carved into the mountains along the Maryland and Pennsylvania border.

This is not a gray area location. It is a known national defense site.

Drone Entered Restricted National Defense Airspace

FBI officials wrote that Bennett’s drone entered restricted airspace above “Site C,” an outlying communications support facility located on Quirauk Mountain in Washington County, Maryland. The airspace above both facilities is classified by the Federal Aviation Administration as restricted national defense airspace.

That classification matters. Restricted airspace is published, mapped, and legally enforceable. Flying into it without authorization is not a minor oversight. It is a federal violation.

According to the affidavit, a U.S. military official reported in September that a YouTube channel had posted drone footage of what was described as an “identified sensitive national defense facility.” Investigators traced the footage back to Bennett.

Authorities later searched his residence and seized the drone allegedly used in the flight. During the search, agents observed that the YouTube account, titled “Area 82 Surveillance911,” was logged in and appeared to have another video processing for upload.

The Raven Rock videos are no longer visible on the channel.

Bennett has been charged with a knowing or willful violation of national defense airspace, a federal crime that carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison. He is scheduled to appear in court for an initial hearing.

A Pattern of Drone Violations in Maryland

Maryland has seen multiple enforcement actions tied to unauthorized drone flights in recent years. High profile sporting events in Baltimore have also attracted pilots who ignored Temporary Flight Restrictions.

In one notable case, a drone flight over M&T Bank Stadium disrupted a Ravens Steelers playoff game. That pilot ultimately received probation, community service, and a fine rather than jail time.

While prison sentences are uncommon in these types of cases, federal charges are not. Equipment is seized. Legal costs add up. Criminal records follow.

The pattern is clear. When you fly where you are not supposed to fly, especially over sensitive infrastructure, enforcement follows.

DroneXL’s Take

There are two separate issues here, and both matter.

First, restricted airspace around active military facilities is not a mystery. It is published on sectional charts, integrated into modern flight apps, and reinforced through tools like B4UFLY and LAANC authorization systems. If you are serious about flying drones in the United States, checking airspace is not optional. It is part of the job.

Second, and this is where the YouTube angle becomes impossible to ignore, posting your own violation online is a self inflicted wound.

As someone who runs a YouTube channel, I will say this clearly. The first thing you do not do as a content creator is upload public evidence of your own wrongdoing. Not for views. Not for likes. Not to chase a spike in subscribers. If you break a rule, broadcasting it in high resolution under your own channel name is the fastest way to guarantee consequences.

YouTube is not just a platform. It is a searchable archive with timestamps, metadata, and an audience that includes regulators, law enforcement, and military officials. Once something is uploaded, it is effectively preserved.

To follow that simple rule, you need one thing that cannot be downloaded as an app update.

Common sense.

The drone industry is still evolving, and regulators are watching closely. Every incident involving restricted airspace strengthens the argument for tighter controls, stricter geofencing, and broader enforcement. Responsible pilots end up paying the price when high visibility violations make headlines.

Flying a drone near scenic mountains is one thing. Flying into restricted national defense airspace and uploading the footage is another.

The aircraft may be unmanned. The accountability is not.

If you want longevity in this industry, whether as a recreational pilot or a professional creator, treat airspace like law, not suggestion. The sky is open to those who respect it. It closes quickly for those who confuse risk with content strategy.

Photo credit: Youtube, The White House and Google Earth.