A Sydney man has been fined $8,000 after illegally operating a drone over critical infrastructure at Port Botany and within restricted airspace near Sydney Airport.
The 26-year-old, from Canley Heights, was sentenced in the Downing Centre Local Court on 14 April 2026 after pleading guilty to multiple aviation safety offences.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Amy Knox said the incident highlighted the risks posed by improper drone use.
“Airports and freight facilities are populous areas that house critical infrastructure and facilitate the movement of people and cargo essential to national supply chains,” she said.
“It is your responsibility to know where you can and can’t operate a drone… and the dangers of flying drones near controlled airspace.”
Investigations began on 15 January when Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers observed an unmanned drone flying in the Port Botany area. Officers located the man in a nearby cemetery, where he was found with the drone concealed under his jacket, along with a controller and mobile phone.
A subsequent search of his vehicle uncovered additional drone equipment, including another controller, spare batteries and a second mobile device.
Authorities later reviewed the drone’s flight data, which showed it had travelled over logistics facilities, critical infrastructure sites and within a 5.5-kilometre radius of Sydney Airport.
The man pleaded guilty to several breaches of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations, including flying above 400 feet without approval, operating outside visual line of sight, flying too low over a populated area and entering controlled airspace without permission.
Authorities have reiterated that strict rules apply to drone operations, particularly near airports and sensitive infrastructure, warning that breaches can carry significant penalties.
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