Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

The pilot of an illegally operated drone that hit a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) helicopter last year has been fined $500 and sentenced to one year’s probation. Andrew Rene Hernandez was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to a single misdemeanor charge of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft in January. It was the first time a drone operator was charged under the federal statute. He could have received one year in federal prison.&nbsp;

 


The charges resulted from a flight conducted by Hernandez&nbsp;shortly after midnight on Sept.&nbsp;18, 2020. Hernandez said he launched his DJI Mavic Pro to investigate police activity at a nearby Hollywood pharmacy. While an LAPD Airbus Helicopters AStar was flying above the pharmacy at approximately 12:35 a.m., its pilot saw and unsuccessfully attempted to avoid the drone, which struck the helicopter, damaging its&nbsp;nose, antenna, and bottom cowling.

 


The helicopter then proceeded directly to the LAPD Hooper Heliport (4CAO) and made a precautionary landing. LAPD flight safety officer J. Coley Maddigan told investigators that had the drone struck the aircraft’s main rotor it would have brought the helicopter down. Pieces of the drone also fell through the rear window of a nearby unoccupied Toyota Corolla.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

L.A. Drone Pilot Avoids Prison

The operator of a drone that struck an LAPD AStar last year has been sentenced to a $500 fine and probation. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

NTSB: Pax Safely Lands King Air after Pilot Collapsed

Vehicle also struck parked ground-support tractor; there were no injuries

Teen Driver Breaches Fence, Hits PlaneSense PC-12 at KPSM

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Six fatal accidents resulted in 22 fatalities in the quarter

NBAA Report Flags Powerplant, Collision Risks in Q2 Data

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Twenty years ago, a business jet and commerical airliner collided; the smaller airplane survived

Remembering a Solemn Anniversary: the Amazon Midair 

David Jack Kenny

Preliminary and final accident reports, September 2026

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: September 2026

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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NTSB: Pax Safely Lands King Air after Pilot Collapsed

Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

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Vehicle also struck parked ground-support tractor; there were no injuries

NBAA Report Flags Powerplant, Collision Risks in Q2 Data

Six fatal accidents resulted in 22 fatalities in the quarter

Remembering a Solemn Anniversary: the Amazon Midair

Twenty years ago, a business jet and commerical airliner collided; the smaller airplane survived

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: September 2026

Preliminary and final accident reports, September 2026

NTSB Cites Heliport Misidentification in Aug. 2025 Crash

Captain opted out of instrument approach over autopilot concerns

Fire of Unknown Origin Led to 2024 Citation X Accident

NTSB: Ignition source could not be conclusively identified

NTSB: Bell 206L Damage Caused by Aeroelastic Interaction

Helicopter experienced a vertical hop for which the pilot didn’t know the recovery procedure

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