Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl half time show drones weren’t actually there

The spectacular flying aircraft weren't allowed to be anywhere near the stadium during the event

Intel, which supplied the Shooting Star drones used in the show, had to seek special permission to operate them

The 51st Super Bowl proved quite the spectacle last night, with the New England Patriots pulling off a stunning comeback to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28, having been 25 points behind in the third quarter.

However, as is always the case, fans have been talking about the ads and half time show just as much as the on-field action.

Lady Gaga took centre stage at this year’s game, wowing viewers with a performance that featured subliminal digs at President Trump, a roof dive and a spectacular drone show involving 300 flying devices.

However, all was not quite as it seemed.

As reported by the Verge, the drones weren’t actually flying live, due to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flying restrictions. Instead, they were filmed earlier in the week.

Ahead of this year’s Super Bowl, the FAA issued a ban on drones for a 34.5-mile radius around the NRG Stadium, where the this year’s game took place.

“Drones are becoming much more popular, but they also pose certain safety risks," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “We’re working closely with our safety and security partners to spread the No Drone Zone message as widely as possible.”

Intel, which supplied the Shooting Star drones used in the show, therefore had to seek special permission to operate them at the venue at all.

The company's light-up aircraft can all be controlled by a single system, and this was the first time they were used as part of a televised event.