At least 5 shows canceled after drones fell from the sky at Orlando holiday event

Source: CNN US

Published 5:28 PM EST, Sat December 28, 2024


CNN — At least five drone shows have been canceled, or have paused the use of the systems, after several drones struck a crowd at a holiday show in Orlando on December 21. Universal Orlando, Orlando World Center Marriott, the cities of Dallas and Austin, Texas, and a New Year’s Eve event in New York City’s Central Park have either canceled drone shows or the drone components of larger holiday events following the incident. It is unclear which companies were under contract to produce the shows in each location.

Footage captured on December 21 shows drones colliding with each other before falling from the sky during a holiday show at Lake Eola Park. Some drones fell into the lake, some onto the ground and some into areas where a crowd was watching. Among them was a 7-year-old boy who was struck in his chest by one of the drones. He underwent emergency heart surgery, according to a GoFundMe campaign posted by his family, who spent Christmas in the hospital as he recovered. CNN has reached out to his family for an update on his condition.

The video showed several red and green drones crashing into one another before hitting the ground, in what the city described as “technical difficulties,” following the incident. The city had two planned shows for the evening. The first was stopped fifteen minutes in due to the malfunction and the second show was canceled.

The drone show was run by Texas-based Sky Elements Drones, an organization that puts on drone light shows across the country. The FAA suspended Sky Elements’ waiver to fly multiple drones while an investigation is underway, according to a statement sent to CNN. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board, which will be in charge of the investigation, according to a statement sent to CNN.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/28/us/drone-shows-canceled-after-orlando-injury/index.html