TSA agents were out in force during yesterday’s Vikings-Packers game at the Metrodome in Minnesota, in addition to a surveillance drone that was spotted keeping tabs on fans – another illustration of how the federal agency is expanding its remit well outside the realm of transportation.

 

Attorney Nathan M. Hansen took photographs of the spy drone and the TSA VIPR agents and posted them to his twitter feed following the game yesterday afternoon.

 

The images show TSA VIPR agents standing around the Metrodome fan plaza on the west side, as well as a small drone hovering high above.

 

It’s likely that the drone was under the operation of Homeland Security given its close proximity to the VIPR agents, although an alternative explanation is that the drone was being used for sports photography.

“You can see the four rotors pretty well on these pics. It is comparable to the sports photography drone linked below as well – I figured it might just be a civilian hobbyist drone or some weird sports media project drone until the VIPR team was found by Hansen,” reports Hong Pong.