Drone in chopper near miss

Drone in chopper near miss

14 May 2025

A DRONE operator, who flew his device close to a search and rescue helicopter which was about to take off in Newcastle at the weekend could face a criminal prosecution.

The quick thinking actions of a police officer and a member of the local Coastguard averted a major catastrophe.

Saturday evening’s incident in Donard Park has shocked members of the emergency services but, chillingly, it has emerged that what happened was not a one off.

It has been confirmed that there have been similar incidents over recent years with drones being flown close to search and rescue helicopters deployed to the Mournes to assist people who sustain 

injuries walking in the mountains.

The PSNI described what happened own Saturday as “absolute madness” and warned that had the Prestwick-based Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter collided with the drone, the outcome would have been “catastrophic”.

The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team called for aerial support to airlift an injured walker who suffered a fall at Lower Cove on the Devils Coach Road.

The walker sustained a leg injury and was lapsing in and out of consciousness.

The volunteers said helicopter assistance was required to airlift the injured walker off the mountain given the extent of their injuries and the challenging location where they fell.

The rescue team said it has enough to deal with without such incidents, confirming there have been similar instances over recent years.

“It’s not like we haven’t got enough to deal with on a rescue and this isn’t the first time in recent years that we’ve experienced drones being flown in close proximity to responding search and rescue aircraft,” said the rescue team.

It said the drone was spotted before the helicopter was fully airborne otherwise the consequences of it colliding with an aircraft could have been catastrophic.

The team has appealed to drone operators not to fly devices under any circumstances if they are aware of an aircraft operating in the area.

Police say flying a drone close to the aircraft was in clear breach of the Air Navigation Order and may result in a criminal prosecution and have appealed for information as they bid to trace the operator.

They say they were securing a landing site in Donard Park for the Rescue 199 helicopter when the drama unfolded.

With the injured walker transferred safely to a waiting ambulance, the helicopter crew was preparing to take off to return to Prestwick when a police sergeant spotted the drone flying very close to the aircraft.

A member of Newcastle Coastguard, who was in the park, alerted the helicopter crew when the aircraft had just lifted off about the drone. The crew was also notified via radio about its presence.

Police then made their way to part of Donard Park where the drone had been spotted to try and identify its whereabouts and the person who was operating it. 

However, there was no trace of either, but members of the public approached police pointing out where the drone had been.

Mournes councillor Jill Truesdale, said what happened was “beyond stupid” and hoped the drone operator will be identified and reminded of the legal responsibility for using such devices.

She said a multi-agency response to assist an injured walker in the Mournes was not something to be captured and posted on social media.

Officers investigating Saturday’s incident have issued an appeal for information and are especially keen to hear from anyone who can assist them trace the drone operator.

Anyone who believes they can help is asked to get in touch using the non-emergency 101 number quoting reference 1228 10/05/25.

Information can also be provided anonymously using the confidential Crimestoppers number 0800 555111.