The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), citing unspecified online photos and videos, has issued a warning to drone pilots not to operate the devices “with a dangerous weapon attached.”
The agency, in a statement issued late last week, cited online photos and videos that show drones “with attached guns, bombs, fireworks, flamethrowers and other dangerous items.” The prohibition includes other dangerous weapons that are capable of causing death or serious injury.
The warning continued, “ do not consider attaching any items such as these to a drone because operating a drone with such an item may result in significant harm to a person and to your bank account.”
The FAA’s statement said that operating a drone with an attached weapon violates a 2018 federal law and is subject to civil penalties of as much as $25,000 for each violation, unless the operator has received specific permission from the FAA to conduct an operation requiring the attached weapon.
In addition, the FAA said, other state and federal laws governing weapons and hazardous materials may also apply, in some cases, to drone operators.
