1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Drone Operator Safety Act of 2017 . 2. Unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft (a) In general Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 31— (A) in subsection (a)— (i) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (11); and (ii) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following: (10) Unmanned aircraft The term unmanned aircraft has the meaning given that term in section 331 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–95 ; 49 U.S.C. 40101 note). ; and (B) in subsection (b), by inserting airport , before appliance , ; and (2) by inserting after section 39A the following: 39B. Unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft (a) Offense It shall be unlawful to operate an unmanned aircraft and, in so doing, knowingly or recklessly interfering with, or disrupting the operation of, an aircraft or other airborne vehicle carrying 1 or more occupants operating in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, in a manner that poses an imminent safety hazard to such occupants. (b) Penalty (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), a person who violates subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both. (2) Serious bodily injury or death Any person who attempts to cause, or knowingly or recklessly causes, serious bodily injury or death while violating subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both. (c) Operation of unmanned aircraft in close proximity to airports (1) In general The operation of an unmanned aircraft, including an operation covered by section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–95 ; 49 U.S.C. 40101 note), within a runway exclusion zone shall be considered a violation of subsection (a) unless— (A) the operator of the unmanned aircraft received prior authorization for the operation from the air traffic control tower at the airport