Sweden has issued its first-ever conviction for operating a drone while under the influence of alcohol. A 55-year-old man was found guilty and fined 32,000 Swedish kronor (over $2,900), The Guardian reports.
The incident occurred in July 2024 in the central part of the country, where a temporary flight ban was in effect at the time. Law enforcement officers detected the violation and determined that the drone operator had a blood alcohol level of 0.69 per mille, significantly exceeding the legal limit of 0.2.
Despite the defendant’s claims that his friend was the one operating the drone, the court found him guilty under Sweden’s drunk driving laws. Prosecutor Jenny Holden Nyström confirmed that this was the first case of its kind in the country.
Karin Hellmont, the district court’s presiding judge, explained that a drone is considered an aircraft, and operating it while intoxicated can pose a serious danger.
