Allegedly Flew Too Close To A Helicopter Operating Over The Cave System

A journalist attempting to capture images above the Tham Laung cave system during the rescue of the soccer team that had been trapped for nearly two weeks was detained by authorities for flying a drone too close to a helicopter in the area.

The incident occurred last Sunday, according to Australia's Nine News. The drone was being used to give a media team better access to the cave entrance where the team was emerging and being placed into ambulances.

The media had initially been allowed to set up near the cave entrance, but later had been pushed back to an area nearly two miles from the cave to provide a clearer path for rescuers and emergency services.

The journalist, who was not named, initially said he had been authorized to fly the drone near the cave entrance by the Royal Thai Air Force, but RTAF officials denied that such permission had been granted.

All team member and their coach were successfully extracted from the cave on Tuesday.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original report