Certified Drone Pilot in Leshan Detained for 5 Days for Illegally Operating a Crop-Spraying Drone That Struck High-Voltage Power Lines, Causing a Regional Power Outage

Subheading: This is the first case in Leshan where a pilot has been administratively detained for an accident caused by illegal drone operation; the company involved has paid over 8,000 yuan in emergency response costs

Leshan, March 19 — On March 19, the Leshan Municipal Public Security Bureau in Sichuan Province announced a case involving the endangerment of public safety caused by the illegal operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle. A licensed professional drone pilot from Emeishan City was administratively detained for five days by public security authorities after illegally operating an agricultural crop-spraying drone, which caused its hoisting tow rope to become entangled in a 10-kilovolt high-voltage power line, resulting in a widespread power outage in the area. The company employing the pilot was required to fully cover the emergency response and repair costs of over 8,000 yuan incurred by the incident. It is reported that this is also the first case in Leshan City where an accident caused by the illegal operation of a civilian drone has resulted in an administrative detention penalty for the operator.

According to a joint investigation by the police and power authorities, the incident occurred at approximately 8:50 a.m. on January 26, 2026, at Group 11, Qingchun Village, Shuangfu Town, Emeishan City. The pilot involved, Li, held a nationally recognized medium-sized drone operator’s license and was employed by a local agricultural and forestry service company to operate the company’s agricultural crop protection drone. During the operation, in order to facilitate transportation and expedite work progress, Li arbitrarily altered the approved use of the agricultural crop protection drone and illegally used the equipment to hoist and transport timber.

To take a shortcut and complete the transport, Li disregarded low-altitude flight safety regulations. Instead of following the designated route to bypass the high-voltage power lines, he illegally operated the drone at an excessive altitude, attempting to fly directly across a 10-kilovolt high-voltage power line 60 meters above the ground. During the flight, the tow rope carrying the timber accidentally snagged the high-voltage power line, instantly causing a short circuit and tripping the transformer. This directly resulted in a complete power outage affecting multiple village groups in Qingchun Village, as well as surrounding businesses and agricultural production bases, severely disrupting the normal production and daily lives of local residents while posing a major threat to the safety of the regional power grid.

Following the incident, the local power supply department immediately activated its emergency repair plan, dispatching two specialized repair teams comprising 12 personnel to the scene. After several hours of continuous work, they completed repairs on the damaged line and restored normal power supply to the area. The total costs associated with emergency response, repairs, and equipment damage amounted to over 8,000 yuan. According to a villager who witnessed the incident, he was working in the fields at the time and saw the drone hoisting timber with his own eyes. Shortly afterward, he heard an unusual noise from the power lines, followed immediately by a complete power outage in the surrounding area.

In late February 2026, during safety awareness visits to local enterprises, the Anti-Terrorism and Special Police Brigade of the Emeishan Municipal Public Security Bureau learned of this incident and immediately launched an investigation into the case on suspicion of illegal flight endangering public safety. Through on-site investigations, analysis of flight data, and interviews with relevant personnel, the investigating officers established a complete chain of evidence proving Li’s illegal flight. Surprisingly, police verification revealed that Li’s violations were not isolated incidents; in all six of his recent drone operations, he had violated regulations regarding flight altitude and flown beyond permitted limits within controlled airspace, demonstrating an extremely lax attitude toward safety.

During police questioning, Li admitted to his illegal activities without reservation. He confessed that he was fully aware that crop-spraying drones are not permitted for lifting operations and that flying above the permitted altitude near high-voltage power lines posed significant safety risks. However, he consistently acted on a gambler’s mentality, which ultimately led to the accident. Pursuant to Article 46, Paragraph 1 of the newly revised “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Penalties for Public Order Violations,” which took effect on January 1, 2026, anyone who violates relevant laws and regulations regarding airspace management by operating civilian unmanned aerial vehicles or aviation sports equipment, under circumstances of a relatively serious nature, shall be subject to detention for a period of not less than five days and not more than ten days. Taking into account Li’s repeated violations of flight regulations, which resulted in damage to public facilities and widespread power outages, the public security authorities lawfully imposed an administrative penalty of five days’ administrative detention.

A representative from the Emeishan Municipal Public Security Bureau stated that with the widespread adoption of crop-spraying drones in agricultural production and forestry operations, violations such as unauthorized changes in drone usage, unlicensed flights, operations exceeding altitude limits, and “black flights” in no-fly zones have become increasingly common. Such actions not only risk damaging public infrastructure such as power and communication systems but also pose a high risk of secondary safety incidents, including drone crashes, falling objects from high altitudes, and electric shocks to personnel, thereby seriously threatening public safety.