Photo / FileKarioitahi Beach near Waiuku is where a drone and paraglider collided in 2018. But legal counsel for the Civil Aviation Authority claimed the drone pilot failed to "keep watch" of the airspace even before the collision, making it very serious offending. The landmark decision made by Judge Mina Wharepouri in February is New Zealand's first prosecution over a collision between a drone and manned aircraft. The two charges were laid under the Civil Aviation Act 1990. The drone wasn't being used by Pitman for filmmaking on the day of the collision, Macklin said.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 01, 2021 00:56 UTC