Drones Crash During Sydney Light Show
Eighty-nine drones crashed into Sydney Harbour during a light show, leading to cancellations and an investigation.
Lauren Collins ·
Drones Crash During Sydney Light Show
Eighty-nine drones crashed into Sydney's Darling Harbour on Monday, May 25, during a performance at the Vivid Sydney light festival, leading to the cancellation of subsequent shows. The incident occurred during the festival's inaugural drone display, which was scheduled to run for 11 nights over three weeks.
The malfunction was attributed to an unforeseen change in the radio frequency environment after takeoff, according to Skymagic, the UK-based company operating the drones. This change compromised positional accuracy, causing some drones to initiate failsafe landing procedures. The drones fell into Cockle Bay, within safety boundaries, but the incident prompted the cancellation of several upcoming performances.
Vivid Sydney organizers and Skymagic are conducting a full assessment with government agencies to determine the future schedule of the drone shows. The festival, which began in 2009, features various light installations and attracts thousands of attendees annually. This year marked the first time drone shows were included in the program, following a decision not to host them in 2023 due to overcrowding concerns.