A DJI Air 2S drone slammed into 7 World Trade Center in New York City , triggering a massive response from the NYPD Counterterrorism Unit and the FBI .
The incident took place a week ago on Sunday , August 2 . At approximately 5 pm , Adam Ismail, a tourist from Dallas , Texas , lost control of his quadcopter while attempting to make a video for an instagram post .
The amateur pilot was unaware of local restrictions that make it illegal to fly any aircraft ( including drones ) within NYC .
As indicated by his Instagram post , Adam used his $ 999 DJI 2S Drone to film a Quickshot Circle . Quickshots automate flight paths to create stunning , cinematic footage and are accessible at the click of a button .
The DJI Air 2S quadcopter is capable of filming 5 different Quickshot modes ( Drone , Helix , Rocket , Circle , and Boomerang ). These modes add a level of production value to the footage captured on the DJI 2S , and are very easy to use .
His drone performed the move , but it slammed into the side of the building , fell , and got stuck . The DJI Air 2S has front – facing obstacle avoidance sensors but not on the sides or back . It was likely traveling sideways at the time of impact .
Hoping to get it back , Adam turned himself in to the security personal at the front desk of the building . He was soon met by a swarm of counterterrorism officers .
The wrong place at the wrong time
Had his drone hit any other building in Lower Manhattan , Adam might have just walked away empty handed . But 7 WTC was one of the three buildings that collapsed following the terrorist attacks on September 11 , 2001 . With the 20th anniversary of the attacks right around the corner , law enforcement is on high alert for anything out of the ordinary .
Although this situation at 7 WTC may seem like an overreaction , it is in the best interest of everyone to fully investigate the disturbance . Small enemy drones carrying explosives have been used to strike targets during military combat operations .
FAA Small UAS Rule ( Part 107 )
It is vital that new pilots understand and comply with the restrictions in place . Here is the full text of the FAA UAS Rule ( Part 107 ) (link).
According to the US Federal Aviation Administration ’ s website (link).
To be certified to pilot a drone you must be :
- At least 16 years old
- Able to read , speak , write , and understand English
- In a physical and mental condition to safely fly a drone
- Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam .
Requirements for Remote Pilot Certificate :
- Must be easily accessible by the remote pilot during all UAS operations
- Certificate holders must complete an online recurrent training every 24 calendar months to maintain aeronautical knowledge recency
Amateur pilots are permitted to fly drones for recreation purposes . However , they ’ re still required to register their drones with the FAA and operate in accordance with all laws .
DJI Air 2S and DJI Flysafe
DJI has taken steps to educate new pilots about restrictions through their DJI Flysafe program . They have also implemented notifications to warn pilots when their drones approach a no fly zone within the app .
Adam was piloting his drone in restricted airspace but for some reason the DJI app did not indicate it . DJI also maintains a Geo Zone Map on their website that visually lays out all known restricted areas .
But users are still “ responsible for checking official sources and determining what laws or regulations might apply to his or her flight ”.
After 6 hours of questioning , they released Adam and handed him a misdemeanor ticket for violating airspace laws . The drone remains stuck and unretrievable .
Fortunately , Adam does participate in the DJI Care Refresh program which covers some of the cost to replace the lost drone .
Be sure to check out our review of the DJI Air 2S quadcopter (link). Just remember to educate yourself on all safety requirements before taking to the skies .
What do you think about the ever changing legal requirements for drone pilots ? Let us know in the comments below .
Featured image credit : Photo by & nbsp ;Siegfried Poepperl& nbsp ; from & nbsp ;Pexels
