On Tuesday 26 May, a RAF crew flying a Prefect aircraft reported spotting a drone at an unsafe altitude of 9,000 feet above Wispington near Horncastle. This altitude is well above the legal maximum limit of 400 feet for drone flights, raising serious safety concerns.
The incident occurred around 3pm in the busy Lincolnshire airspace, which is frequently used by military, civil aircraft, and emergency services. Flying a drone at such a high altitude breaches strict height restrictions designed to keep the skies safe for manned aircraft.
Flying at 9,000 feet poses a significant risk to manned aircraft, including RAF and emergency service flights that routinely operate over Lincolnshire. The illegal drone flight could have led to a dangerous collision or near miss.
Keev Taylor, Lincolnshire Police’s Chief Drone Pilot and Flight Safety Manager, highlighted the dangers involved: “The majority of drone users fly legally, but high-altitude drone flights remain a serious concern in our busy airspace.”
Lincolnshire’s airspace is particularly busy, with the Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial flights, Air Ambulance, and various civil and military aircraft all sharing the skies alongside licensed drone enthusiasts.
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information about the drone or its operator to come forward. Anyone with details is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police by email at [email protected] or by phone on 101, quoting incident number 344 dated 26 May 2026.
Originally published by UKNIP.
