A 46-year-old man has been charged after a drone allegedly entered the airspace of a rescue helicopter flying over Charlestown.
Police allege the incident occurred about 1am on Sunday, 23 August, when the helicopter was flying about 1000 feet above the Charlestown area on its way to a medical emergency.
The drone allegedly entered the helicopter’s airspace, but the aircraft did not need to take evasive action and was able to continue its duties.
No air crew members were injured.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District, with assistance from specialist officers from the Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, began investigating the incident.
About 3pm on Monday, 24 August, police executed a search warrant at a home on Newcastle Road, Wallsend, where they spoke with a 46-year-old man.
A drone was seized from the property.
Police will also allege about 1kg of cannabis was found at the premises.
The man was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with seven offences.
This includes allegedly threatening the safety of an aircraft or people on board, operating an unmanned aircraft in a way that created a hazard, and failing to operate an unmanned aircraft within visual line of sight.
He was also charged with operating an unmanned aircraft in weather conditions not permitted, failing to operate an unmanned aircraft as approved or permitted, supplying a prohibited drug in excess of a small quantity and possessing a prohibited drug.
The man was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on 24 September.
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