Dad flew drone with his daughter – now prosecuted

An outing in a park with his daughter unexpectedly turned into a court case for a man in central Stockholm. After flying a drone while under the influence of alcohol, he now faces charges of aviation intoxication – and risks imprisonment.

The man had recently bought a small drone for private use. On a sunny spring day, he took his six-year-old daughter to a park on Kungsholmen to film her from the air and create a memory to share with the family.

What started as an ordinary family activity, however, came to an abrupt end when several police officers arrived at the scene. They asked who was responsible for the drone, and the man readily admitted he was the one flying it.

Strong beer with lunch

During the check, questions were also asked about alcohol consumption. The man stated that earlier in the day, he had drunk two strong beers with lunch. He did not feel intoxicated and therefore saw no reason to withhold the information.

The police conducted a breathalyzer test which showed a level above the permitted limit for those operating an aircraft. After further testing at the police station, it was determined that the blood alcohol concentration was about 0.9 permille.

“I had no idea the rules were so strict when it comes to drones. I saw it as a simple leisure activity with my daughter, not something that could lead to a criminal suspicion,” he told DN.

Risks prison

In mid-June, charges were brought against him. He reacted particularly to the fact that the legislation includes the possibility of imprisonment in more serious cases.

According to the man, there is a lack of clear information for ordinary consumers that the same alcohol rules applying to other aircraft also apply to small drones. He claims he received no information at the time of purchase or in connection with registration and training relating to drone use.

The man has no previous convictions and describes himself as careful to follow the rules he was aware of regarding flying. He says he never realized that a couple of beers earlier in the day could mean he was committing a crime.