Drone of Alabama Real Estate Photographer Shot Down
So, there’s this real estate photographer from Alabama named Michael Gardner who got his drone shot down while he was working near Athens. He was using a DJI Mavic 4 Pro on Saturday when he suddenly heard a gunshot. That noise messed up the drone's video feed, and it ended up crashing. It took him two days to get it back because someone else had to find it. Gardner pointed out that firing at a drone breaks FAA rules and is super dangerous. If the battery gets damaged, it could catch fire if it lands on something. The shooter could face serious penalties from the FAA and possibly criminal charges. Gardner is now working with the FAA in Birmingham and filing a police report. Interestingly, in 2024, a 60-year-old guy in New York was arrested for doing something similar.
Key facts
- Michael Gardner's drone was shot down near Athens, Alabama.
- Gardner operates Deep South Aerial Photography.
- The drone was a DJI Mavic 4 Pro.
- The incident occurred on a Saturday near Lindsay Lane.
- Gardner heard a gunshot and saw his video feed go haywire.
- The drone crash-landed and was recovered two days later.
- Shooting a drone is illegal per FAA rules.
- The shooter may face civil penalties and criminal charges.
- Gardner is cooperating with the FAA in Birmingham and police.
- A similar incident occurred in upstate New York in 2024.
Entities
Artists
- Michael Gardner
Institutions
- Deep South Aerial Photography
- Federal Aviation Administration
Locations
- Alabama
- Athens
- Lindsay Lane
- Birmingham
- United States