Illegal drone flown during an Arkells concert in Winnipeg raises concerns
Posted August 29, 2024 5:51 pm.
Last Updated September 9, 2024 2:38 pm.
After an unauthorized drone stole the show during the Winnipeg stop of the Arkells’ Big Feeling tour, new details have emerged about the operator behind the drone, with the footage captured not only surfacing, but making it back to the band.
“Throughout the show I sort of developed a relationship with the drone, I would signal it to come closer and then sort of push it away and it would act accordingly, it turns out that was an illegal drone,” explained Max Kerman, the lead singer of Arkells.
“Winnipeg police we want the footage, it looked like it was going to be cool footage.”
It all Began when Kerman posted this plea to the Winnipeg Police on social media, asking them to take it easy on the drone operator.
READ MORE: The Arkells looking for illegal drone footage from Winnipeg concert: ‘Get us the hard drive’
“That was my drone, and I purposely didn’t put up any shots or anything because yeah the police did come check me out,” according to a voice memo from Arkells Instagram.
CityNews spoke with the drone operator who says he was just planning to fly it from afar.
“But when he started interacting with it, he kept his eyes on it so I tried getting a little closer, and so finally when I went a little closer you can see on the video he calls me in,” said the drone operator.
The operator who asked to remain anonymous, and says the Arkells now have the footage, and he is grateful the police were so understanding about the whole situation, and knows that he could have been fined over the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Not only has he kept in touch with the band, he’s been invited to Edmonton to fly again.
“That just made my whole entire morning so I’m going to make the drive out there or a flight and take my son to his first concert,” said the drone operator.
Winnipeg police confirm they spoke to the operator of this drone and others who have flown them illegally over crowds.
So far police haven’t fined anyone to date, but say their enforcement aims to educate pilots about the requirements and consequences if they do have repeat offences, but are emphasing that private drones must be operated away from bystanders, crowds, and emergency operations.