A drone has crashed into the Sydney harbour bridge while filming the area around it, prompting police and aviation authority investigations.
The quadcopter was discovered near a pylon on Wednesday night with a GoPro camera attached to it. Counter-terrorism officers are monitoring the police investigation into where it came from.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is investigating given the potential multiple air safety regulations that were breached. A spokesman, Peter Gibson, said the footage the drone recorded before it crashed had been viewed.
“It was used to fly around the bridge and take photos before hitting the pylon,” he said.
“It appears there is a number of potential breaches. You should never fly closer than 30 metres to people, buildings or structures. The airspace around the bridge is also restricted.”
The authority is downloading data from the drone’s control system to try to find its owner.
Gibson said it was a recreational aircraft and police were investigating why the footage was being taken around the bridge.
“It could have just been for the sake of it, we don’t know why they were filming,” he said.
Anti-terrorism officers had been notified.
The drone was found a day before the International Fleet Review began, with crowds expected to flock around the harbour to see tall ships, warships and navy boats from around the word mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy entering the harbour for the first time.
Gibson said central Sydney was not the place to be flying drones and even if people wanted to fly one in an oval or park they needed council permission.
“It’s just about using your common sense, really,” he said.
“There is the potential for injury with those aircraft, you need to keep them away from people.”