Say His Aircraft Interfered With A Shark Bite Rescue

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office has cited a drone operator for interfering with a medical rescue helicopter involved in the rescue of a shark bite victim.

Television station KNSD reports that David Steel, 57, operated his drone in an area set aside for the medical helicopter. The SCSO said that the helicopter pilot as forced to circle the landing area, delaying the pickup of Keane Webre-Hayes, who had been bitten by a shark while diving for lobster of the coast of Encinitas, CA.

Steel was located by deputies and ordered to land the drone, which he did. But he was given a misdemeanor citation for violating the state law that prohibits drone flights at the scene of an emergency operation.

Steel said that his drone was not anywhere near the landing zone when the emergency crews noticed the aircraft, but may have flown into the restricted area while landing the aircraft.

Steel said in hindsight, it was "very poor judgement", but he fully complied with the order to land the drone.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original report