Man who surprises sick daughter with drone flight fined | Inland

The man made the drone flight on April 11 last year. He had just bought the drone and consciously chose the Efteling for his first flight, because his daughter recovering from illness has a special bond with the amusement park. The park had been closed to the public due to the corona pandemic and he thought no one would be there. He made recordings of the attractions George and the Dragon and the Python.

In court

Park employees discovered the drone and alerted the police. The Public Prosecution Service then offered the man a transaction of 250 euros for flying above so-called contiguous buildings and not having a constant view of the drone. However, the 44-year-old man declined that offer and had to go to court.

The man said during the hearing that he knew that flying was prohibited in a large part of the park due to the proximity of Gilze-Rijen airport. The part of Efteling where he flew did not fall under that prohibited area. He did acknowledge that he did not have a constant view of his drone due to the presence of trees.

The man will not be punished for flying over contiguous buildings, because European rules were amended in January and this is no longer punishable for the type of lightweight drone the man flew. However, the judge finds it punishable for the man not to have a constant view of the drone, as he himself stated.

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