But Cole Kelley Must Forfeit His Aircraft, Not Fly Again According To Court Records

The 20-year-old man who crashed his DJI Inspire 1 drone into the Seattle Space Needle while workers prepared for a fireworks show on New Year's Eve has pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment.

The Seattle Times reports that Cole Kelley admitted that he "flew a drone in a manner that caused a likelihood of harm to persons or property," according to court records.

Kelley will not spend any time in jail for his actions. He received a 364-day suspended sentence and was fined $250. But he was also ordered to forfeit his drone, and not operate a drone in the future.

Kelley was flying the aircraft well above the FAA's 400 foot altitude ceiling for drones. One of the aircraft's rotors was "dangerously near wiring from one of the [pyrotechnics] boxes, one motor was well wrapped up in the strap, one blade had shattered, and the drone itself was kicking around threatening the wiring of the pyrotechnic devices,” according to a 2017 Seattle City Attorney news release.

The crash sequence was captured by the drone's onboard camera. The aircraft was turned over to Seattle Police after the accident to be held as evidence.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original Report