ORLANDO, Fla. - A holiday drone show at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando took an unexpected turn over the weekend. What began as a festive display on Saturday, with red and green-lit drones illuminating the sky, quickly turned chaotic as several drones collided and plummeted toward the crowd, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This mishap led to one person, later identified as 7-year-old Alexander, being rushed to a local hospital for medical treatment.
The incident occurred during the City of Orlando's 6:30 p.m. holiday drone show, the first of two scheduled displays for the evening. Video shared with FOX 35 News captured the drones crashing not only near spectators but also falling directly onto the lake. Shortly after the incident, the city canceled the 8 p.m. show, citing technical difficulties on social media. “Due to technical difficulties, the 8 p.m. Holiday Drone Show at Lake Eola has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience,” read the statement.
A spokesperson for the City of Orlando confirmed the FAA is leading the investigation. “We are in contact with the vendor to determine what occurred,” the spokesperson stated. The FAA confirmed several small drones collided and fell around 6:45 p.m. during the holiday light show.
Experts have weighed in on potential causes of the drones malfunctioning. Dr. Vivek Sharma, a drone expert from the Florida Institute of Technology, speculated it could be due to GPS interference, programming errors, or even mid-air collisions between the drones. “It could be a GPS failure, or it could be programming failure, or it could be potential collision where one of the drones might have collided with multiple drones,” he elaborated. “There could be multiple possibilities.”
The FAA oversees drone shows, stating, “Drone arrays and light shows are subject to FAA regulations. This typically requires waivers for operating multiple drones simultaneously.” Their comprehensive review process covers everything from the software controlling the drones to how operators manage safety around the spectators.
Among those injured was Alexander, who was struck by one of the drones with such force it knocked him unconscious, resulting in significant injuries. According to his parents, Adriana Edgerton and Jessica Lumsden, the drone hit Alexander’s chest hard enough to cause damage to his heart valve. “Before we realized it, my daughter found my son on the floor unconscious. He had blood coming out of his face,” Edgerton recounted, expressing her distress over the incident.
Alexander underwent open-heart surgery shortly after the accident. His recovery is being closely monitored, but details on his current condition remain unclear. Edgerton expressed outrage at the incident, emphasizing, “This should not have happened, and no family should be going through this. We were trying to watch a show and have a good time.” She articulated her desire for greater safety measures at public events to avert similar occurrences.
Sky Elements Drones, the vendor responsible for the drone operations, released a statement expressing their concern for those affected. “Sky Elements Drones wants to extend our sincere hope for a full and speedy recovery to those impacted at our Lake Eola show. The well-being of our audience is our utmost priority,” they stated. The company committed to collaborating with the FAA and Orlando officials to fully understand what went wrong and how such incidents can be prevented.
This incident raises significant questions about safety protocols surrounding drone shows, especially high-attendance holiday events. Licensed drone pilot Andrew Whitehall noted the challenges faced during synchronized drone displays, highlighting the risks associated with operating multiple drones without human pilots on board to make quick decisions when problems arise. “It’s multiple vehicles in very close proximity. Several areas where they could be a source of error,” Whitehall stated.
The horrific event at Lake Eola has prompted the community to call for accountability. Alexander's mother took to social media to voice her fears and frustration. She stated, “City of Orlando - Government and Sky Elements Drones really have some explaining to do. They will be held accountable for what was done to my son. I pray he makes it out of this!”
Families who attended the event reported varying degrees of panic during the drone crashes. Some witnessed drones hang precariously above the crowd before plunging down, causing chaos. Eyewitness accounts suggest there were diversions from the show’s intended formation, leading to the malfunction.
City officials are cooperating with the FAA investigation, analyzing data from the event to determine what safeguards can be implemented or improved upon for future shows. Last-minute adjustments to event setups and enhanced communication between operators and regulatory bodies will likely become imperative.
This incident marks not only a tragic event for Alexander and his family but also serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety standards at public gatherings featuring drone technology. The FAA's investigation and the subsequent actions taken by the city and the drone operator may reshape how future drone shows are conducted, ensuring such accidents are less likely to occur.
