Drone Operators Arrested

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Key Takeaways:

  • Two men were arrested in New York after their quadcopter allegedly nearly collided with an NYPD helicopter over the George Washington Bridge.
  • The drone was reportedly flying at dangerously high altitudes (800-2000 feet AGL), forcing the police helicopter pilot to take evasive action.
  • The individuals, Wilkins Mendoza and Remy Castro, were charged with Class D reckless endangerment following the incident.
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Two New York men have been arrested after the quadcopter they were flying allegedly almost collided with a police helicopter over the George Washington Bridge. NYPD sources told the New York Daily News that officers on the helicopter followed the drone to its landing zone and that Wilkins Mendoza, 34, and Remy Castro, 23, were arrested at the scene. Another drone was also recovered. The two men were charged with Class D reckless endangerment because the helicopter pilot believed the drone was a threat to his aircraft.

The newspaper said the officers on the helicopter spotted the drone flying at about 800 feet AGL near the iconic bridge just after midnight Monday. The paper says it was told the helicopter pilot had to take evasive action to avoid a collision with the UAV. The court was told the police observed the drone flying as high as 2,000 feet.

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