Congressman pushes airspace safety bill for Coachella, Stagecoach festivals

New legislation aims to protect hundreds of thousands of attendees at major outdoor concerts

Mar. 31, 2026 at 1:06am

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A serene, cinematic painting depicting a small private plane flying over the iconic Ferris wheel and palm trees of the Coachella Valley, with the scene bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation about the need for increased airspace security at large outdoor events.New legislation aims to restrict airspace over major outdoor concerts like Coachella to enhance public safety.Indio Today

Rep. Raul Ruiz, a Democratic congressman representing California's 25th district, has introduced the 'Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act' to require temporary flight restrictions over large outdoor concerts with more than 30,000 attendees. Ruiz said similar rules are already in place for major sporting events, but not for concerts, creating a 'critical safety gap' after an incident last year where an aircraft had to make an emergency landing near the Empire Polo Grounds during a concert.

Why it matters

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Festival are two of the largest outdoor music events in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees each year. Ensuring the airspace above these events is secure is crucial for public safety, especially after a recent incident where an aircraft had to make an emergency landing near the festival grounds.

The details

Ruiz's 'Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act' would require temporary flight restrictions over outdoor concerts with more than 30,000 attendees, similar to the rules already in place for major sporting events. While some restrictions on drones have been implemented, Ruiz said the new legislation would expand those protections to include manned aircraft like small planes flying over the concert venues.

  • Last year, an aircraft had to do an emergency landing right outside of the Empire Polo Grounds during a concert.

The players

Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D.

A Democratic congressman representing California's 25th district who introduced the 'Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act'.

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

One of the largest outdoor music festivals in the country, held annually in Indio, California.

Stagecoach Festival

Another major outdoor music festival held annually in Indio, California.

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What they’re saying

“The Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act will close the critical safety gap for outdoor concerts. Last year, when I had a security briefing while I was at the concert, there was an aircraft that had to do an emergency landing right outside of the Empire Polo Grounds. One of their banners got stuck in the wires. We need to make sure that concertgoers and everybody that works there are secure and safe.”

— Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D., Congressman

What’s next

The 'Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act' will now move through the legislative process, with Ruiz hoping to get the bill passed before the start of the 2026 festival season in the Coachella Valley.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation highlights the growing need to ensure the safety and security of large outdoor events, especially high-profile music festivals that draw massive crowds. By extending temporary flight restrictions to cover these types of events, lawmakers aim to close a critical gap in existing regulations and better protect concertgoers and event staff.