Crown limo runs over drone

A Crown limo ran over and crushed a drone on Parliament’s forecourt in a mishap during a filming session at Parliament yesterday.

This comes as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is urging people not to toy with drones.

A spokesman for the Office of the Clerk said the drone had been taking footage of the exterior of Parliament for use by Parliament TV.

He said the car, a BMW 7 Series, was undamaged and no one was hurt.

“It was owned by a local drone operator. The car was a Department of Internal Affairs Crown car.”

It is unknown whether a minister was in the car at the time.

The spokesman would not say which firm was operating the drone. “It is now a private matter being sorted between the relevant parties.”

A film crew had been filming Parliament for generic aerial footage.

Occupants of Parliament had been told of the drone’s use in advance, and signs were to be placed to inform members of the public.

In the past at least two Crown limos have been walloped by the automatic rising bollards which were installed in Parliament’s driveways in 2016.

Drone photography has increased in popularity in recent years but that has brought problems.

A spate of illegal drone incidents in Queenstown over the past week has sparked three separate investigations by the CAA.

It has urged people to be careful with drones. “If you receive a drone this Christmas, you become a pilot and you have responsibilities.”