Elizabeth Kreft
The Federal Aviation Administration is asking serious questions after a drone was spotted above a fatal car crash in Hartford, Conn., Saturday.
The FAA confirmed to Connecticut Fox affiliate WTIC-TV on Thursday that they are investigating the use of a drone after a Hartford Police Department incident report was released stating that officers spotted a drone flying over the scene of the crash, while bodies were still in the car.
Police Lt. Brian Foley told the station that drones present concerns regarding privacy and officer safety.
The FAA is investigating the use of a drone over a fatal car crash in Hartford, Conn. (Image source: WTIC-TV)
WTIC reported that the FAA will make a statement Friday, however the FAA told TheBlaze in an email that they do not have plans to make a statement yet.
“The Fox story is incorrect. We are not making a statement today. We are investigating,” FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette said.
The FAA sent TheBlaze an Unmanned Aircraft System fact sheet explaining their stance on drones in public situations:
Because they are inherently different from manned aircraft, introducing UAS into the nation’s airspace is challenging for both the FAA and aviation community.
Safety is the FAA’s top mission, and the agency maintains the world’s safest aviation system. As a provider of air traffic control services, the FAA also must ensure the safety and efficiency of the nation’s entire airspace.
See the local news video here:
So what’s to prevent a hobbyist who lives near a freeway or dangerous intersection from filming wrecks? Some have a two mile range and can use a Hero type camera. As long as they are below 400 ft. and not near airports, they are legal. Apparently it’s illegal if they are for commercial use, like selling the video to news outlets.