Queensland Police have charged a teenager for flying a drone over the Watpac Townsville 400 Supercars event earlier this month.
A 17-year-old male allegedly piloted a drone on an unauthorised flight above the Reid Park circuit on the Saturday afternoon of the event, according to a Police report.
The report claims the drone hovered over the helicopter operations area at Townsville State High School, adjacent to the circuit’s main straight, as a helicopter was landing and as another helicopter was taking off.
Helicopter flights were temporarily suspended before the drone allegedly flew over the race track, which was being used as a departure corridor for air operations.
Police have seized the drone and viewed the footage it recorded.
The teenager has been charged with aircraft operating in airspace above a major event. He will appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on August 10.