Flying drones on airports can land you in a world of hurt. Just ask this man from California, where he is facing a total of over $20,000 in fines. The incident happened at an airport in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The California man flew and landed his drone at the airstrip, violating several drone regulations in the process.
Las Vegas Drone Flyer
The man was a tourist; flying his DJI Phantom 3 to take shots at the different sights. Most notably, the man wanted to capture moments on the famous High Roller Observation Wheel. The drone ended up near the McCarran International Airport, where it landed near the runway.
The California man alleges that the drone went haywire and he lost control of the tech. This chain of events led to the drone flying near a very busy Las Vegas airport. Luckily, nobody was harmed – both on the ground and on the air. The drone operator however is not so lucky. Aside from the fact that he was a tourist, his drone landed at a very dangerous part of the airport. This mere action put plenty of people at risk. The man received a fine for this drone fiasco amounting to $14,700. Where is the rest of the $20,000 you ask?
A Hefty Fine
Well, the California drone owner also neglected to respond to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) letters to summon him. Fees for these neglected dates up the total to the 20k mark.
Whether or not the drone flew into restricted areas ‘as a result of control problems’, one thing is for certain. Drone flyers must ensure that they know the drone regulations of the area they are in before flying. They must also ensure that their drones are in working order before releasing them in public spaces.
The fines may be steep for this particular drone operator, but a lesson in safety is always worth its price.
