Police Eagle in drone near-miss

Police Eagle helicopter operations were suspended in the early hours of New Year’s Day after it nearly collided with a drone in central Auckland. The pilot spotted a drone flying in ‘‘extremely close proximity’’ over Spaghetti Junction shortly after midnight, and had to take immediate action to avoid a ‘‘serious collision’’, police said. Police believed there were two other unauthorised drones in the vicinity at the time. The pilot and crew were ‘‘shaken’’ by the incident. Auckland City acting district commander Inspector Jim Wilson said the drone operators were ‘‘totally irresponsible’’, and police would investigate thoroughly.