Several drones collided and fell into a crowd during a holiday drone show at Orlando’s Lake Eola Park on Saturday night, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
One person was injured during the event, as confirmed by the Orlando mayor’s office. The injured individual’s identity and the nature of their injury were not disclosed, nor was it confirmed whether the injury resulted directly from the falling drones.
Detectives from the Orlando Police Department visited the victim’s family at the hospital and are working with the FAA in the investigation of the incident.
The collision occurred around 6:45 p.m. local time. Due to what the city described as “technical difficulties,” a second drone light show scheduled for 8 p.m. was canceled.
FAA Oversight and Regulations
Drone shows are heavily regulated by the FAA to ensure the safety of both people on the ground and in the air. The FAA reviews various aspects of drone shows, including:
- The software controlling the drones.
- Procedures for establishing safe and restricted areas to protect audiences.
- Contingency plans for drone malfunctions or unexpected proximity of manned aircraft.
The Orlando holiday drone show, now in its third year, typically draws around 25,000 attendees. This year’s show was operated by Sky Elements Drones.
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Sky Elements’ Statement
In a statement obtained by WKMG, Sky Elements Drones expressed regret over the incident and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
“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 well-being of our audience is our utmost priority, and we regret any distress or inconvenience caused,” the statement read.
The company emphasized its commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards and working with the FAA and Orlando officials to determine the cause of the collision.
Recent Drone-Related Incidents
This incident follows ongoing reports of mysterious drone sightings across parts of New Jersey and other areas in the eastern United States.
The investigation into the Orlando drone collision is ongoing.
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