DRONE ALMOST CAUSED HELICOPTER CRASH

Man found guilty in landmark UK case

A drone which passed narrowly under a police helicopter could have brought about ‘catastrophic’ consequences similar to the recent tragedy in Leicester which killed five people, a court heard.

Sergej Miaun became the first person in the UK to be prosecuted for flying a drone which interfered with a police vehicle after he disrupted a search for a missing woman in the River Nene in Guyhirn.

The court heard that the National Police Air Service had to take “evasive action” on December 9 last year due to the safety risk caused by the drone, which was being controlled by Miaun at his home half a mile away.

Police aborted their search of the river in the dark to follow the device back to the 37-year-old’s garden in High Road, Guyhirn, before searching his property and finding it hidden in a loft hatch above his bath.

The court was told Miaun twice denied having a drone before it was discovered.

The defendant, who could follow the £900 Phantom 4’s path through an iPad, claimed he was in control of the flight at all times and that the drone was never more than approximately 420m away.

However, Miaun was found guilty by magistrates after a trial having previously denied the charges.

Sentencing him last Thursday, chief magistrate Hilary Glover told the defendant: “You could not reasonably be satisfied that the flight could be safely made. We consider this to be reckless, especially considering the possible serious consequences of your actions.”

Earlier, Captain Lee Holmes, who flew the police helicopter, told the court that he lost sight of the drone for five minutes, adding: “You see in Leicester when it goes wrong, it’s catastrophic.”

Miaun, who it was noted was of previous good character, was found guilty of failing to maintain direct, unaided visual contact with a small unmanned aircraft and flying a small unmanned aircraft when not reasonably satisfied that the flight can be safely made.

He received fines totalling £464, and the magistrates ordered the forfeiture of the drone.

Police footage of the drone in action