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Drone Strike on a News Helicopter

Likely not deliberate, but still dangerous.

I keep waiting for an unintentional or intentional act by someone piloting a drone to have terrible consequences. The latest close call I'm aware of is A news helicopter was struck by a suspected drone over Los Angeles, causing substantial damage.

Eventually calamity will come calling. Either an accidental impact of a drone with an aircraft that downs the aircraft with loss of life or a deliberate terrorist attack using a drone. 

When either of the above finally happens, there will be a huge outcry to limit the use of drones. The most effective preventive measure would be to take them out of the hands of amateurs and hobbyists, since that is where most problems today are coming from.

Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.