A seven-year-old boy is in critical condition after being struck by a drone during a holiday show in Orlando, raising safety concerns.
The show started off great, with drones flying in perfect formation. But just a few minutes in, things went wrong. Some drones collided and veered off course, hitting the boy. His mom said his sister saw him on the ground bleeding, and he was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.
Paul Charbonnet, a drone expert, explained that these shows are usually run by computer software, with people on standby to handle any issues. He mentioned that while everything is automated, there are safety measures in place to pause or stop the show if needed.
The FAA is now looking into what caused the drones to malfunction. They have strict regulations for drone shows, requiring a waiver to operate multiple drones at once. They review everything from the software used to safety procedures for the audience.
Charbonnet noted that drones can collide for various reasons, and it could have been anything from a malfunction to a bird getting in the way. Sky Element Drones, the company behind the show, expressed their concern for the boy and said they are working with the FAA to figure out what happened.
The city of Orlando also shared their thoughts, saying they are in touch with the vendor and the FAA. Everyone is hoping for a speedy recovery for the young boy and looking for answers about this unfortunate incident.
