Man Issued Summons After Drone Is Spotted Flying Over Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

A man was issued a summons after he was accused of flying a drone over the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday morning, sources tell NBC 4 New York.

The drone was spotted flying near West 77th Street and Central Park West at about 10:30 a.m. Sources say that police tracked down an alleged operator, a Russian man who was with his son, a few blocks away at 81st Street and Central Park West.

The man's drone was confiscated as police spoke to him and his son, taking the two from the parade route to the 20th precinct stationhouse, sources say and video shows.

Sources said the man claimed he didn't know about the law forbidding the drone flight. 

The family did not want to comment on the incident, but the boy's mother told NBC 4 New York her son was terrified when police approached. 

Police issued a ticket to the man and released the two. The drone was returned to them. 

"I think he probably was a guy who thought it was cool to get some footage but you have to go through the right procedures," said parade spectator Zack Marleau of hte Upper East Side. 

Police "probably had the right idea" to be cautious, though, said April Wild, visiting from Columbia, Maryland. 

The drone flight was the only known notable security incident in the 89th edition of the annual parade. Security at the event was stepped up due to fears of terrorism following attacks in Paris that left 130 dead earlier this month. 

With 2,500 NYPD officers along the route, plus 500 members of the counterterrorism unit, the security made up the biggest police force at any Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

More than 3 million people attended the annual parade.

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