A young boy was taken to the hospital on Saturday after being struck by a drone during a holiday drone display in Orlando, Florida.
Key Points
- The Orlando Fire Department reported that a 7-year-old child’s hospitalization was due to injuries from falling drones.
- A video by user MosquitoCoFl on X showcased drones crashing to the ground during their aerial performance.
- Officials canceled a subsequent show due to technical issues.
Drone Show Incident
The Orlando Fire Department stated that a 7-year-old boy had to be transported to a medical facility after sustaining injuries from drones that fell during a holiday event, as per FOX 35 in Orlando.
A video shared by X user MosquitoCoFl depicted hundreds of drones participating in an aerial light show. The footage showed the drones initially flying in sync before some abruptly descended and crashed onto the ground.
“Oh no! I don’t believe they’re supposed to be falling,” a man was heard saying as he witnessed the incident.
During the commotion, geese were seen flapping their wings, attempting to evade the falling drones and the ensuing chaos.
City officials informed the press that the holiday drone display had received authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, after the mishap, the city decided to cancel a subsequent show scheduled for 8 p.m. due to “technical difficulties.”
FAA Involvement
The FAA is set to probe the reason behind the drone performance malfunction. The FAA conveyed to Fox News Digital:
“Several small drones collided and fell into a crowd during a holiday drone show over [Eola] Lake in Orlando, Florida,” the FAA indicated. “The incident occurred around 6:45 p.m. local time on Saturday, December 21.”
Drone arrays and light exhibitions must adhere to FAA regulations, often necessitating a waiver for rules that typically restrict the operation of more than one drone at a time. The FAA examines the software guiding the drones, methods for establishing safe perimeters for spectators, protocols for drone malfunctions, and procedures for when aircraft approach the display area.
Safety Protocols and Vendor Response
The FAA also assesses the operator’s strategies for keeping drones within a designated zone using Geofencing and ensures the operator employs enough personnel to manage the event effectively.
For the second consecutive year, the City of Orlando engaged Sky Elements Drones to oversee the drone operations, according to reports. Sky Elements Drones did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital regarding their comment on the mishap.
In a statement to Fox 35, the vendor expressed:
“Sky Elements Drones wants to extend our sincere hope for a full and speedy recovery to those impacted at our Lake Eola show in Orlando on Saturday, Dec. 21.”
The company further stated, “The well-being of our audience is our utmost priority, and we regret any distress or inconvenience caused. We are diligently working with the FAA and City of Orlando officials to determine the cause and are committed to establishing a clear picture of what transpired. Millions of people see our shows annually, and we are committed to maintaining the highest safety regulations set forth by the FAA.”
To read more on drone incidents, you can check the military expert’s say on drones spotted across the Northeast.