A short YouTube video of a quadcopter has prompted an investigation from the Federal Aviation Administration.
This 14-second clip is simply titled “Flying Gun” and shows a handgun mounted on a quadcopter hovering above a wooded area. The gun fires a few shots and the video ends.
“Homemade multirotor with a semiautomatic handgun mounted on it. Note: The length from the muzzle to the rear of the frame is over 26,” reads the description.
The video has nearly two million views in less than two weeks on YouTube.
AFP reports that the FAA is now involved, and it wants to know if the “flying gun” maker has violated any laws.
“The FAA will investigate the operation of an unmanned aircraft system in a Connecticut park to determine if any Federal Aviation Regulations were violated,” the agency said in a statement. “The FAA will also work with its law enforcement partners to determine if there were any violations of criminal statutes.”
Turns out, the gun-toting ‘drone’ was built by an 18-year-old in Connecticut, under the guidance of his father.
From NBC Connecticut:
Haughwout’s father Brett Haughwout said his son is an engineering student at Central Connecticut State University, custom built a drone device that included a spot for a handgun and the capability to fire it midflight. The gun belongs to Brett.
Brett said the video that shows the drone firing the weapon was shot on their property in Clinton, Connecticut. The father and son duo did “extensive research” before assembling the flying weapon to make sure they wouldn’t break any laws.
Local officials said they don’t think the device breaks any state laws.
