What’s the best way to capture footage of a $17 million yacht engulfed in flames?

A drone, of course.

Last Thursday, a 110-foot yacht caught fire while dry-docked for repairs at a San Diego shipyard. Drone enthusiast Kurt Roll captured dramatic, close-range footage, again underscoring the potential value of unmanned aircraft for news organizations.

Media companies have been locked in a legal battle with the FAA over the regulation and use of drones. In May, more than a dozen news outlets, including the New York Times Co., Tribune Co. and Associated Press, filed a joint brief with the National Transportation Safety Board arguing that the FAA’s ban on drones impinges on the First Amendment, preventing freedom of the press and the free flow of information.

H/T Daily Dot