Aircraft Was Hit By Shotgun Blast, Shooter Refuses To Pay For All Damages

We're concerned that this scenario may become all too common as small UAVs become more popular in the U.S.

A person flying a hexcopter over a 100 acre orchard in central California owned by his parents ... well on their side of the property line, says on a Reddit blog that his neighbor shot down the UAV with a shotgun, admitted it, and is not refusing to pay for the $700 in damages to the aircraft.

The blogger, who goes by omgtentacles on Reddit, reports that the aircraft was easily 150-200 feet from the property line on his parent's side when the hexcopter fell from the sky. He saw the neighbor holding a shotgun with his finger on the trigger. After a discussion that the blogger describes as "civil", the neighbor owned up to pulling the trigger, saying he thought it was "surveillance equipment" and comparing it to something flown by the CIA. The blogger says there is not even a camera attached to his hex.

The neighbor also said it was over his property, which the blogger disputes, but it was clearly on his side of the line when it was shot down.

Initially, omgtentacles says the neighbor agreed that he was in the wrong and that he would pay for the damages ... but then he began to backtrack. At first he said he'd pay for half, and the blogger says he is now refusing to pay at all.

In an update, omgtentacles reports that a report has been filed with the county Sheriff, and that the neighbor could possibly face charges of felony destruction of property. He says there would be no "negligent discharge of a firearm" charge because the shotgun was loaded with birdshot. He also says he will pursue damages in small claims court.

In the blog's comments, one commenter points out that with the NTSB and FAA saying that even small UAVs are aircraft, the shooter may face federal charges of shooting down an aircraft. It is too early to know how that will play out.

(Image from file)

FMI: Blog