Taiwanese influencer Chung Ming-hsuan (鍾明軒) might be fined between NT$300,000 and NT$1.5 million (US$47,441) for allegedly using a drone within the restricted airspace of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant.
Chung, who has more than a million subscribers on YouTube, said in a video that he operated a drone in southern Taiwan while filming for his national tour of egg cakes, according to a report received by the military-focused Facebook page Taiwan ADIZ.
Chung allegedly flew the drone within the restricted airspace around the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant on the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), an offense under the Civil Aviation Act (民用航空法).
Photo: Screengrab from Chung’s YouTube channel
The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) received a public complaint about the incident and is investigating it along with other agencies, including the power plant.
The incident drew swift attention because the airspace is tied to national security and nuclear safety.
Drone enthusiasts urged people not to take risks in pursuit of online views and footage, saying that Chung is not the first to have contravened the rules, but that public figures should not set a bad example.
Chung said on social media that he would take responsibility if any negligence was confirmed, emphasizing that his drone had been properly registered and he had completed real-name verification before takeoff.
However, this claim was quickly challenged, as legal registration and real-name verification are not requirements under Taiwan’s regulations, but rather refer to new rules around drones introduced by China last month.
This is not the first time drones have been used to illegally film in the Hengchun Peninsula, as it has beautiful landscapes, but also houses sensitive military and public infrastructure.
For example, in a previous case, the Checheng Township (車城) Office in Pingtung County commissioned a contractor to produce a promotional video using aerial filming.
Two years after the video was uploaded online, people reported that it had been filmed within the restricted airspace around Hengchun Airport.
The CAA verified the report and fined the contractor NT$300,000, making it clear that contraventions can be penalized even years after the video has been released.
There are many restricted zones around the Hengchun Peninsula, including around Hengchun Airport, Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant and many parts of the Kenting National Park, a drone enthusiast said yesterday.
Ignorance is no excuse for contravening drone regulations, aviation authorities said, urging drone operators to check airspace conditions on the CAA app before flying.
If people observe suspected illegal drone flights, they can report them to the authority responsible for the restricted airspace or to the CAA, which would investigate and handle such cases according to the law to safeguard public safety, the CAA said.
Additional reporting by Huang Yi-ching
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