Ministry of Interior warns: don’t fly drones near helicopters during intense firefighting
Police say operators who endanger helicopters during firefighting and police missions will face administrative and criminal action
The Ministry of Interior warned on August 21, 2026 that drone pilots who interfere with police or firefighting helicopters will be identified and face both administrative and criminal charges as authorities respond to a spate of recent fires.
Police said they are already processing similar incidents and stressed that anyone operating unmanned aircraft must follow the law and existing aviation rules to avoid endangering manned flights involved in emergency operations.
Clear rules for drone operators
“Operators who meet the prescribed conditions are obliged to carry out operations exclusively in accordance with the applicable aviation regulations, airspace restrictions and the conditions set by the competent aviation authorities, including necessary notifications and coordination with the relevant flight control services, when this is prescribed,” the Ministry of Interior said.
The ministry added that if a drone operator notices or hears a police helicopter nearby, they must immediately and without delay land the drone.
“The risk is further increased during firefighting operations, when helicopters fly at low altitudes, in conditions of smoke, reduced visibility, turbulence and high workload for the crew, where timely detection and avoidance of a small unmanned aircraft — a drone — can be extremely difficult,” the statement said, as firefighting aircraft have been intensively engaged in recent days.
Authorities appealed to hobbyists and professional operators to respect flight rules and coordinate with competent agencies so that air operations for public safety can continue without additional hazards.
Photo: press material from the event
