§39B Unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft

Summary

Makes it a crime to fly a drone in ways that put people on a manned aircraft in immediate danger while the aircraft is operating in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. That includes knowingly interfering with or disrupting such an aircraft, or doing so recklessly. It also makes it a crime to knowingly fly a drone without permission inside a runway exclusion zone. A runway exclusion zone is a rectangle centered on an active runway at airports where the surrounding airspace is class B, C, or D at the surface under part 71 of title 14; it extends 1 statute mile beyond each end of the runway and is 1/2 statute mile wide. For most violations the penalty can be a fine, up to 1 year in jail, or both. If someone recklessly causes serious bodily injury or death while interfering, the penalty can be a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both. If someone knowingly interferes or knowingly flies in the runway exclusion zone and causes, tries to cause, or plans to cause serious bodily injury or death, the penalty can be a fine and imprisonment for any term of years or for life.