North Carolina drone operator admits flying inside Charlotte airport exclusion zone
A man from Charlotte, North Carolina, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge after launching a drone within a runway exclusion zone at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Prosecutors say the flight began at the airport's public observation area.
A Charlotte man has pleaded guilty to a federal charge over a drone flight earlier this year inside a runway exclusion zone at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina said.
Marco Antonio Ochoa, 50, entered the plea Tuesday to one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft. Prosecutors said he launched the drone in March from the Airport Overlook, a public observation park between two active runways.
The FBI and the Federal Air Marshal Service investigated the flight.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said flying drones can be enjoyable, but it turns hazardous in prohibited areas. Operators should know the applicable restrictions and permit rules before launching, he said.
No sentencing date has been set. The charge carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison, a $100,000 fine and a year of supervised release.
Sources
- avweb.comDrone Pilot Pleads Guilty To Flying Near Charlotte Airport