At Least 5 Drone Shows Canceled or Paused After Multiple Drones Collapse Over Crowd
At least five drone shows have been canceled or have paused their use of the systems after several drones crashed over a crowd at a holiday show in Orlando on December 21. The cities of Universal Orlando, Orlando World Center Marriott, Dallas and Austin, Texas, and a New Year’s Eve event in New York City’s Central Park are affected.
The incident, which caused widespread panic, occurred during a holiday show at Lake Eola Park, where drones collided with each other before falling from the sky. Some drones landed in the lake, while others fell onto the ground, including into areas where a crowd was watching. A 7-year-old boy was struck in the chest by one of the drones and underwent emergency heart surgery.
Footage from the incident shows the drones crashing into each other before hitting the ground, an event officials described as “technical difficulties.” The show was stopped 15 minutes into the first show, and the second show was canceled.
The drone show was run by Texas-based Sky Elements Drones, which was also suspended from flying multiple drones while an investigation is underway. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board will jointly investigate the incident.
Sky Elements released a statement, saying it is committed to determining the cause of the incident and maintaining the highest safety regulations set forth by the FAA. The company has been working with city officials and the FAA to establish a clear picture of what happened.
The FAA requires drone arrays and light shows to follow strict regulations, including a waiver prohibiting the operation of more than one drone at a time. Each application is thoroughly reviewed to ensure public safety. Officials and companies affected by the incident are offering their support to those who were harmed. The FAA has suspended the waiver to allow Sky Elements to fly multiple drones while the investigation is ongoing.
