Watch: A ‘stupid’ drone user flies a DJI Phantom 2 straight up 11,000 feet

With drones becoming cheaper and more accessible, it isn’t surprising they’re getting more ubiquitous than ever. And it is such proliferation that has been cause for concern to authorities, leading to formulating laws and regulations aimed at using these gadgets safely.

In the US and in the EU, for example, there are regulations that prohibit flying drones at heights exceeding 500 feet, and with reason--uncontrolled operation of drones at higher altitudes could result in the serious possibility of disrupting--and even endangering--air traffic, not to mention the chance of these devices depleting their battery, falling out of the sky and injuring--or killing--someone.

So when a user in The Netherlands decided to send his drone flying as high as he possibly could in an attempt to ‘break a world record’, it was both foolhardy and reckless. The owner of a DJI Phantom 2--one of the most advanced consumer drones available--ended up piloting the drone to a height of 3.4 Kilometers (approximately 11,155 feet) in the middle of a city.

The video was originally posted to YouTube, but has since been taken down. It was later found on video sharing site Vidme, shown above.

Operating a drone involves more responsibility than skill--so do not attempt to replicate this stunt yourself or you could face the very real possibility of criminal prosecution in your region.