Aircraft Operator Says He Was Flying Legally

This is a situation that is likely to get worse before it gets better. In the most recent case of neighbor vs. neighbor involving a UAV, William Meridith of Bullitt County, KY has been arrested for blasting his neighbor's quadcopter out of the sky with a shotgun.

The incident happened a week ago Sunday, according to television station WDRB in Louisville, KY. Meridith said that the aircraft was hovering low over his property where his kids were outside, so he got his shotgun and opened fire. He made no apologies for shooting down the aircraft.

The owner of the UAV tells a different story. He says he was flying over a neighbor's house who happened to be on vacation to capture video of the residence. That neighbor was reportedly in Las Vegas at the time.

NPR reports that the aircraft belonged to David Boggs, who says that he provided flight tracking data from the aircraft showing it was at an altitude of 250 feet, not "hovering low" over other houses. He said he had no intention of invading anyone's privacy.

WDBR reports that when Boggs and his friends confronted Meridith about the shooting, Meridith threatened to shoot them with a pistol he was carrying. "If you cross my sidewalk, there's going to be another shooting," he said to Boggs and his friends.

Meridith was arrested and taken to jail for wanton endangerment first degree and criminal mischief. Hillview, KY police detective Charles McWhirter told the station that it is illegal to discharge a firearm in the city.

Meridith said he was disappointed that the police made him out to be the bad guy in the incident. He said that the police did not confiscate the $1,800 aircraft or its sim card, but that at least five neighbors saw it fly over their homes. He said it flew low enough to see "under the patio."

The FAA's UAV rules say they should not be flown over buildings ... but the agency also says shooting at them is a significant safety hazard. Meanwhile, Meridith says he plans to pursue legal action against Boggs.

(Image from file. Not incident aircraft)

FMI: https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/uas/content/UASSection333FAQs.jsp