Beijing to ban drone possession, citing security

Beijing is set to prohibit the possession of drones within its city limits starting November 15, as part of stricter regulations that already banned drone sales. The city's municipal government announced the new rules on Sunday, citing safety concerns. The prohibition extends to storing UAVs and transporting them or their components into Beijing.

The decision follows a June incident where a small plane crashed into the capital's tallest skyscraper, killing the pilot and injuring 13 others. Beijing's regulations, introduced in May, require drone owners to register their devices but allowed them to keep them. The new rules mandate owners to dispose of their drones or move them out of the city by the specified date, or face confiscation and fines.

Authorities will provide subsidies for owners to scrap or sell their devices through buy-back channels, or offer free shipping to mail them out of the city. Exemptions may be granted for special purposes like counter-terrorism, agriculture, disaster relief, and research.