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2 Arrested After Drone Flies Near New York Police Helicopter

Two men were arrested after a small drone flying near the George Washington Bridge came within 800 feet of a police helicopter, officials said on Tuesday.

Wilkins Mendoza, 34, and Remy Castro, 23, both of Manhattan, have been charged with reckless endangerment.

On Monday shortly after midnight, the pilot of the police helicopter notified officers at the 34th Precinct that an unmanned aircraft had gotten in the way as he flew near the bridge. The pilot said the drone then landed on a vehicle parked on the ground nearby. When the officers reported to the scene, they arrested two men found in possession of two drones and two remote controls.

Under a law passed in 2012, the Federal Aviation Administration has until next year to promulgate official rules for what are known as unmanned aircraft systems. But according to recently published guidelines from the agency, rules that govern the flight of conventional aircraft also apply to unmanned aircraft. The rules prohibit “any conduct that endangers individuals and property on the surface, other aircraft, or otherwise endangers the safe operation of other aircraft in the National Airspace System.”

The F.A.A. does permit model airplanes used for recreation to fly at altitudes of less than 400 feet so long as the planes stay within sight of their pilots and do not interfere with manned airplanes. At the time, the drone was flying at 2,000 feet, according to the agency.

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