newy.com.au – A 46-year-old man has been charged after a drone allegedly entered the airspace of a rescue helicopter flying to a medical emergency over Charlestown.
Police allege the helicopter was flying about 1000 feet above the suburb at 1am on Sunday, August 23, when the drone intruded into its airspace.
The crew did not need to take evasive action and continued to the emergency. No one on board was injured.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District, assisted by the Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, began investigating the incident.
Police executed a search warrant at a Newcastle Road home in Wallsend about 3pm on Monday and spoke to the man. A drone was seized from the property.
Officers also allege they found about one kilogram of cannabis at the home.
The man was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with seven offences. The charges include committing an act threatening the safety of an aircraft or those on board, operating an unmanned aircraft in a way that created a hazard, flying it outside the operator’s visual line of sight and operating it in prohibited weather conditions.
He was also charged with operating an unmanned aircraft without approval or permission, supplying a prohibited drug and possessing a prohibited drug.
The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday, September 24.
Join the discussion on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Eitmh1k43/
