Unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
(a) Offense. Any person who operates an unmanned aircraft and:
(1) Knowingly interferes with, or disrupts the operation of, an aircraft carrying 1 or more occupants operating in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, in a manner that poses an imminent safety hazard to such occupants, shall be punished as provided in subsection (c).
(2) interferes with, or disrupts the operation of, an aircraft carrying 1 or more occupants operating in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, in a manner that poses an imminent safety hazard to such occupants, shall be punished as provided in subsection (c).
(b) Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to Airports.
(1) In general. Any person who, without authorization, knowingly operates an unmanned aircraft within a runway exclusion zone shall be punished as provided in subsection (c).
(2) Runway exclusion zone defined. In this subsection, the term "runway exclusion zone" means a rectangular area—
(A) centered on the centerline of an active runway of an airport immediately around which the airspace is designated as class B, class C, or class D airspace at the surface under part 71 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and
(B) the length of which extends parallel to the runway's centerline to points that are 1 statute mile from each end of the runway and the width of which is ½ statute mile.
(c) Penalty.
(1) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (2), the punishment for an offense under subsections [1] (a) or (b) shall be a , imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both.
(2) Serious bodily injury or death. Any person who:
(A) Causes or death during the commission of an offense under subsection (a)(2) shall be , imprisoned for a term of up to 10 years, or both.
(B) Causes, or or to cause, or death during the commission of an offense under subsections (a)(1) and (b) shall be , imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both.
History: (Added Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title III, §384(a), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3322.)
1 So in original. Probably should be "subsection".
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to fly a drone (unmanned aircraft) in a way that knowingly or recklessly interferes with an aircraft carrying people, creating an immediate safety hazard. It is also a crime to knowingly fly a drone without authorization in a "runway exclusion zone" (an area around active runways at certain controlled airports, extending 1 mile past each runway end and half a mile wide).