Man fined HK$4,000 for drone crash at the PLA Central Barracks

A 51-year-old man was fined HK$4,000 today at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts after his drone crashed at the People’s Liberation Army Central Barracks back in 2018. 

The man surnamed Tai, a security guard, was using a drone in Central to film the AIA Carnival on December 17, 2018. During filming Tai somehow lost connection to the drone and it crashed at the PLA Central Barracks. Officers at the barracks spotted the drone and reported to the police. 

Tai pleaded guilty to recklessly or negligently causing or permitting an aircraft to endanger other person or property. 

Tai pointed out that he only flew the drone around the carnival as he didn’t want to disturb the event. However he misunderstood the obstacle avoidance function of the drone and didn’t know that drones could not fly higher than buildings. 

He eventually lost connection to the drone, causing it to crash at the barracks. Tai later learnt that the drone crashed at the barracks as his friend, informed by the police, notified him. 

Tia then proactively reported the incident to the police and cooperated with officers during the investigation. He stressed that he didn’t mean to do harm to anyone and promised not to use drones anymore in the future. 

There was no injury or causality in the incident. Apart from the fine his drone was also confiscated.