By Jason Henry, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
A falling drone cut and bruised an 11-month-old girl in a stroller at an event Saturday, according to the Pasadena Police Department.
Police said a 24-year-old man lost control of his DJI Inspire 1, a camera-carrying quadcopter costing nearly $3,000, causing it to crash to the ground outside of City Hall during a movie screening.
“It lost its signal and ultimately crashed on Marengo Avenue and the debris from hitting the ground went out and hurt the child,” said Lt. Mike Ingram, with the department’s air operations. “It could have been much worse.”
The little girl received a quarter-inch cut on her head and a bump on the forehead, police said. She was treated at Huntington Memorial Hospital and then released.
It’s unclear what caused the drone’s descent, but police said the operator flew outside his visual range, losing track of the quadcopter. The operator did not face any charges, but police forwarded the accident to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Field Standards District Office in Van Nuys for review. The FAA could fine the operator if he’s found to have flown recklessly.
He said the Pasadena police department urges drone operators to use “common sense” and to follow the guidelines released so far by the FAA.
“It’s an exciting technology, it just needs to be used appropriately so no one is hurt,” he said.
Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman, said Tuesday that the agency is investigating the report.
“The FAA is concerned with the growing number of reports about unsafe operations and is stepping up both its education and enforcement efforts,” Gregor said. “Anyone who flies carelessly or recklessly can face fines from $1,000 to $25,000, depending on the seriousness of the violation.”
Gregor said the FAA has initiated more than 20 enforcement cases, settled five where the operators paid fines, and has proposed penalties in at least five other cases.
The FAA advises operators to keep drones below 400 feet and away from unprotected people and vehicles. Drones must be operated within line of sight of the pilot and avoid interfering with manned air crafts, Gregor said.
Drone hobbyists in Southern California have attracted a lot of attention this past summer, with the state and local cities eyeing legislation to rein in their use, particularly during wildfires. Drones delayed fire fighting efforts in San Bernardino County earlier this summer, as they present a risk for aircrafts dousing the fires.