US aviation regulator seeks largest fine yet on drones in crackdown

Washington

THE US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing the largest fine to date against a drone operator as the agency cracks down on the booming use of unmanned aircraft in congested skies over populated areas.

The agency said on Tuesday it was recommending a US$1.9 million penalty against SkyPan International Inc, which made 65 drone flights from 2012 to 2014 in airspace above cities including New York. The company uses drones to photograph the prospective views from Manhattan high rises under construction, according to its website.