Drone flown in high security zone, case registered against 2 American citizens

Updated: 23-03-2026, 06.18 PM

A case has been registered against two American citizens for flying a drone in the high-security zone of Fort Kochi in Kerala. The accused have been identified as Katie Michelle Phelps (32) and Christopher Ross Harvey (35). Both are residents of Redding, California. According to police officials of Fort Kochi police station, the two had come to Kochi as tourists and were seen making videos with a drone near the Coast Guard headquarters on Saturday morning. The tourism police saw them and took them into custody.

According to the FIR, both of them flew the drone in the restricted Red Zone area near Children’s Park, near Chariot Junction, without taking prior permission. There are sensitive places like INS Dronacharya and Coast Guard Headquarters in this area.

Recorded visuals of INS Dronacharya near you

Police said the accused also recorded visuals around INS Dronacharya during the drone operation without permission. The FIR has been registered under relevant rules of the Indian Justice Code, Aircraft Act and Drone Rules.

Police released both the accused

Fort Kochi falls under the ‘Red Zone’, where flying drones is prohibited. Naval and Coast Guard establishments are located in this area. Police said that a drone and a laptop have been seized from the accused. The two were released after being issued notices to appear before the police as part of the ongoing investigation, officials said.

Such incidents have happened before also

Fort Kochi is a tourist destination but houses important naval and coast guard units. Drones are considered a security threat in the Red Zone. There is a fear of espionage or other activities here. This is not the first time that someone has been caught here for making videos or taking photographs. Such cases have come up earlier too, but this issue is more in discussion because of foreign tourists.