After a gas explosion destroyed two buildings in New York on Wednesday morning, a local man launched a DJI Phantom II to film the action. The 3-pound, 4-blade drone captured 30 minutes of footage; here’s a screenshot from the film which shows the city’s bravest at work:

The drone’s owner, 45-year-old Brian Wilson, told the New York Daily News that he normally uses the Phantom II to film real estate or sports events, and that this was the first time he had filmed breaking news. He claims to have launched the drone after receiving permission from the NYPD, and then landed it after the battery depleted; he added the police told him not to fly it anymore.

Meanwhile, an ABC News chopper flying overhead captured shots of Wilson’s drone flying low above the tragedy (I’ve added the arrow):

Wilson’s decision to launch the drone is an excellent example of both…