Christopher McEwen, 46, was sentenced at Norwich Magistrates Court on February 13, 2026, for 17 drone offences that included interfering with an active emergency response in Norwich, Norfolk. According to Norfolk Constabulary, this is believed to be the first time a person has been convicted in the UK for flying a drone over emergency services during a major incident.
The court heard that McEwen flew his drone three times over a large industrial fire on Dibden Road on January 20, 2025, which hindered firefighters and potentially blocked emergency drones from being used. He also admitted to flying over HMP Norwich in June 2024 to take photographs of prisoners in an exercise yard, which broke national prison laws regarding restricted photography.
Officials from Norwich Airport noted that McEwen carried out 33 flights within the airport’s restricted zone without getting permission. In one instance on May 2, 2025, he flew his DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine drone to 1,900ft – nearly five times the legal height limit – and came within 350 metres of a light aircraft whose pilot was unaware the drone was there.
McEwen was ordered to pay a total of £2,910 in fines and court costs for his actions. The magistrates also ordered that his drone be handed over and destroyed to prevent any further dangerous use in the community.
The East Anglian Air Ambulance warned that these types of flights can be catastrophic for medical helicopters and other low-flying planes. This case establishes a clear legal standard for how police will handle people who use drones to disrupt emergency responders or enter restricted airspace.
