Police investigate drone pilot who interrupted firefighting efforts in Humpty Doo area

THE pilot of a drone who interrupted firefighting efforts in the Humpty Doo area is yet to be charged but remains under investigation

THE pilot of a drone who interrupted firefighting efforts in the Humpty Doo area on Tuesday is yet to be charged but remains under investigation.

In flying the drone above the area, planes and helicopters were grounded as they could not safely douse flames if a drone was in the vicinity.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority direction prohibits the use of a civilian or commercial drone over an area where fire, police or other emergency operation is being conducted.

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NT Police Superintendent and Emergency Operations Centre incident controller Daniel Shean said the drone could had prevented firefighters from containing the fire at Doxas Road on Tuesday.

“Whenever emergency services, whether it be police, fire or other emergency services are operating in an area, it is an offence to fly a drone over that area and the civil aviation legislation makes it so,” he said.

“We have had one count already of a person flying a drone over fire operations on Tuesday that resulted in the grounding of aircraft until such time as that drone was located out of the airspace.” Planes were grounded during Tuesday’s bushfires, given the drone may have been flying at a similar altitude.

The drone grounded a air craft trying to drop water and foam on the fire at Humpty Doo. Picture: Che Chorley

Superintendent Shean said while drone pilots may think they were helping by obtaining quality footage, it was ultimately illegal and could bring catastrophic consequences.

“It is really, really important that anyone that owns a drone complies with CASA legislation and does not fly a drone, over any area … operating in an emergency situation,” Superintendent Shean said.

“It might be excellent footage one might think but in terms of ensuring our fire appliances are doing their job safely, they can’t do it if the drones are flying around.”

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On Tuesday, NT Bushfires Watch Commander Chris Manuel said the drone had interrupted firefighting attempts.

“There was a person with a drone about 2pm, he launched the drone which compromised the aerial operations,” he said.

“As soon as there’s a drone out the plane has to get out of that space.”

Police will conduct an investigation over the incident before providing a full report to CASA.

The drone operator could face heavy fines over the incident.