A method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is performed by a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal displays an image transmission interface on a touchscreen of the mobile terminal, the image transmission interface including a picture taken by the UAV that is wirelessly connected to the mobile terminal. After detecting a touch control signal applied on the touchscreen, the mobile terminal acquires an operation gesture according to the touch control signal and generating a corresponding operation command according to the operation gesture and a current control mode of the image transmission interface. Finally, the mobile terminal sends the operation command to the UAV. The UAV then performs a predefined operation according to the operation command.