Helicopter pilot reports 'near miss' with drone over Newport
Police have renewed warnings to drone owners following a near miss with a helicopter.
Officers were called to the area between Donnington, Edgmond and Newport shortly after 10.30am today after a helicopter pilot reported encountering a drone in their flightpath.
Constable Lee Thomas, from the Newport safer neighbourhood team, said: "The helicopter pilot advised police that they were flying at an altitude of 1,500 feet when the drone appeared in front of them a very short distance away
"The maximum height that a drone can be flown at in the UK according to CAA rules is 400 feet and clearly, the consequences of what may have happened should the drone have been sucked into the helicopters engines or such like could have been extremely serious.
"Thankfully on this occasion the pilot was fortunate enough to see the drone in time and adjust their course to prevent a potential collision."
Officers searched the area around where the incident had taken place but were unable to locate the drone or its owner.
