News, deep dives, and analysis — every Maine story, newest first.
Drone detection systems flagged unauthorized aircraft over the Great State of Maine Air Show as the Blue Angels, RAF Red Arrows, and an F-35 team performed; police warned rogue pilots will be arrested.
Portland City Council voted Monday night to approve a $45,316 purchase for the Portland Police Dept. first dedicated drone — a Skydio aircraft supplied through Axon
The $45,000 drone Portland police want has been stuck in political limbo since November 2025, when the council rejected it 4-3. Now, under Order 88-25/26, the Portland City Council faces the same vote again — and the same legal reality: under 25 M.R.S.A. §4501, Maine police departments cannot acquire a drone without governing body approval.…
As Spectrum Local News reports, the Portland City Council is preparing to revisit a drone proposal that it rejected only a few weeks ago. The vote takes place tonight, and it will decide whether the Portland Police Department can move forward with buying a drone priced at forty five thousand dollars. Absolutely not chump change.…
Portland, Maine’s City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to reject the police department’s proposal to purchase a $45,000 drone for search-and-rescue operations and accident reconstruction, marking another rare example of sustained citizen resistance to police drone adoption as most U.S. cities rapidly deploy aerial surveillance with minimal public debate. The Portland Police Department sought to…
Picture this. A golden retriever named Chaos calming nerves while a thermal drone scans snowy woods in search of missing hikers. That is the new duo working at the Sagadahoc County Emergency Management Agency in Maine. One brings comfort. The other brings high tech heat vision that could make your Mavic blush. Midcoast Agency Levels…
A commercial drone pilot conducting aerial searches for missing pets in northern Maine has been targeted by gunfire twice in recent weeks, with one bullet striking his aircraft—acts that constitute federal crimes carrying potential prison sentences under aviation law. Robert Russell, owner of 2A TAC Drone Services based in Barrington, New Hampshire, was operating his…
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. This week, we cover three important stories: DJI’s expected announcement of the Mini 5 Pro, the sentencing of a drone pilot in California for colliding with a firefighting aircraft, and a search and rescue drone being shot down in Maine. DJI Unveils the Mini 5 Pro As anticipated,…
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