Most Recent Shooting Occurred In Norfork, AR Last Month

The FAA officially treats UAVs like any other aircraft when it comes to someone taking shots at one. It's a very bad no-no ... literally a federal crime.

But there have been at least a dozen reported cases of someone shooting at a drone, often with devastating effects on the aircraft, and Forbes contributor John Goglia points out that so far, there have been no federal prosecutions of the shooters.

Goglia said that the FAA confirmed that shooting at a drone is federal offense, and 18 USC 32 makes it a felony to damage or destroy an aircraft. The FAA basically says anything mechanical that flies is an aircraft ... which would include drones.

According to the FAA "regardless of the situation, shooting at any aircraft — including unmanned aircraft — poses a significant safety hazard. An unmanned aircraft hit by gunfire could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air."

Goglia said he has not been able to get any answers from the FBI or the Justice Department as to why the Feds are not going after drone shooters. He says that the shooter in Arkansas would be a good place to start.

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