Roman Atwood has revealed that the FAA is investigating his recent helicopter flights. This comes after a video of a stunt he did with Ashton Hall went viral on Instagram, gaining over 20 million views in just two days.
The video captured Hall jumping from the side of Atwood’s helicopter while it was in flight and then running alongside it.
In a recent video, Atwood shared that the FAA is now reaching out to the mechanics who work on his helicopter. They’re asking for his airworthiness certificate and maintenance records to confirm his aircraft is up-to-date on all required inspections.
Atwood says he flies at “his expense”
Atwood acknowledged the investigation but insisted he hadn’t broken any laws. He explained that as a private pilot, he’s not allowed to profit from flights. He clarified, “I’m a private pilot, so I can’t charge anyone for flying this helicopter. I didn’t receive any payment from him, his team, or any business – not a single dollar. I covered all the costs myself.”
Roman Atwood recently shared that the FAA is looking into the helicopter video featuring Ashton Hall. He clarified that he didn’t accept any payment from Ashton Hall, as FAA regulations prevent private pilots from profiting from flights.
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) May 9, 2026
Atwood’s claim that he wasn’t paid for the flight might be more complicated than it appears. The FAA doesn’t just consider direct cash payments as compensation. They’ve consistently defined it as anything valuable received, like publicity, increased brand recognition, or income from ads or sponsorships related to the flight’s content.
He also pointed out that his helicopter is classified as an experimental aircraft, meaning it follows specific FAA guidelines for operation. He assured everyone that all required maintenance and inspections are up to date.
Atwood suspects the inquiry was prompted by his presence on YouTube. He explained that a small group consistently monitors his activity with the intention of publicizing it, which he sees as both a benefit and a drawback of his work.
The investigation is ongoing, and right now the FAA is reaching out to others instead of contacting Atwood directly. However, he anticipates they will contact him formally in the near future.
Not the FAA’s first Youtuber investigation
In 2019, the FAA suspended pilot Trent Palmer’s license for 60 days, according to Flying Magazine. He violated rules about flying at a safe altitude while filming a low pass over someone’s property, as reported by the magazine.
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed its original decision: flying low just to get photos or videos for social media isn’t a valid reason to excuse any risky or illegal maneuvers.
The video shows Atwood flying very close to the ground while Hall ran right next to the helicopter. Another person was also riding a dirt bike alongside, creating a dangerous situation with multiple people near the moving aircraft.
Ashton Hall has gone viral before. We previously reported on his four-race losing streak against IShowSpeed, after Hall publicly said he would defeat the streamer.
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2026-05-10 13:19