Police plea for drone care after chopper’s near miss
Tighter regulations on drones could be the fallout from a near collision with a police helicopter over central Auckland yesterday.
Inspector Jim Wilson, speaking after the Eagle helicopter narrowly avoided a crash with a drone over the city’s Spaghetti Junction in the early hours, condemned the actions of such drone operators.
Wilson, the acting district commander of Auckland City, said the actions were dangerous, totally irresponsible and police will be investigating thoroughly.
He said tighter regulations on drones may be a result of the investigation, but it was too early to tell.
“The incident [this morning] could have easily ended in tragedy for all and it is a timely reminder of the dangers of flying drones near other aircrafts,” Wilson said.
Wilson said the drone came within five to 10 metres of the helicopter and the pilot had to veer away from the flying object.
He said it was too early to say if the action was deliberate, but the Eagle helicopter was flying in the central city area which is an exclusion zone for drones.
“I’m of the firm belief that the pilot potentially saved lives,” the police inspector said.
“If he hadn’t taken that evasive action, who knows what might have happened. Even a small drone has the potential to cause catastrophic damage to an aircraft”.
Wilson said the helicopter was carrying a pilot and two police staff at the time of the near miss.
“Ongoing support will be offered to those staff,” he said.
Wilson said police would work alongside the Civil Aviation Authority to try to ascertain what happened.
“It is immensely frustrating. I just ask for all drone operators to be really responsible in the areas in which they fly their drones and not to fly them near any commercial aircraft.”