1st Case of Unauthorized Drone Flight Sent to Prosecutors since Law Revision

Takamatsu, Kagawa Pref., Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)--Japanese police sent papers on a photo studio owner to public prosecutors on Monday, on suspicion of flying a drone without state permission. This marked the first such police action over an unauthorized drone flight since the revised aviation law took effect on Dec. 10. The photo studio owner, 50, is alleged to have illegally flown a drone over a housing district in the western city of Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, in December, following an order to take photos of a local high school, sources close to the police investigation said. The drone took off from a park but control was lost soon afterward. It was later found in a parking area about 500 meters away. The owner admitted being aware of the law revision, the sources said. The revised aviation law bans flying drones in certain areas without government permission. END