Irresponsible drone flying has been a plague in our modern times. In the past year alone, the number of occurrences involving drones nearly hitting planes have multiplied immensely. This puts passengers and crew of planes and helicopters at risk. Drones have also been seen spying on people and have caused a privacy issue worldwide. They have also been caught smuggling items into private areas like jails and residential areas.
Most of these cases had the owners of the drones vanish into thin air when police arrive in the scene. This means that the irresponsible owners get to have their fun while also face none of the consequences.
Sheer Danger Threat at Sheeran Concert:
The most recent issue with irresponsible drone flying came at an Ed Sheeran concert in Brisbane, Australia. Unlike most drone-related incidents however, this time they caught the person behind it.
During Sheeran’s “Divide” tour in Australia, a drone reportedly flew overhead at the Suncorp Stadium. This is all well and dandy, too bad the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in the country has certain rules regarding drones. Drones cannot fly too high or too low, and drones most certainly cannot be in a crowded area.
Authorities apprehended the owner of the drone after the incident and fined $1,050 AUD (equivalent to about $807 USD). The fine did seem heavy for what seems like a mild offense, but you have to really draw the line somewhere.
The people in the stadium were at risk with an unmanned drone flying above. It could easily have fallen in unsuspecting heads, injuring them. The drone could also cause damage to the stage equipment or electrical wiring. The unmanned device may have also caused a fire. It was too dangerous of a risk and the owner – as well as drone users everywhere – needed to get the message. People came there to have fun, and their safety always comes first for the authorities in the area.
In a world where it’s just as easy to purchase drones and fly it anywhere, rules need to be enforced. And for the few unlucky enough to get spotted for their drone’s actions, penalties have to apply to get the message across.
