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Published on January 17, 2025
NTSB Highlights Missteps in Orlando Drone Show Malfunction That Injured Boy, Sky Elements Aerial Displays Suspended by FAASource: Project Kei, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A recent National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report has revealed the technical malfunctions that marred an Orlando Christmas drone show, leading to injuries and a dramatic incident involving a 7-year-old boy. According to FOX 35 Orlando, the preliminary findings disclosed several key errors, including the non-transmission of a crucial "launch parameter file" and the misalignment of the show center, which inadvertently reduced the safety barrier.

On December 21, at Lake Eola Park, spectators gathered for what was expected to be a celebratory drone display. Instead, they witnessed drones collide, spiral out of control, and crash into a lake and, most tragically, into the crowd—striking Alezander Edgerton, now in recovery post open-heart surgery. While the family's attorney, Rich Newsome, awaits the outcomes of the inquiries to establish liability, he voiced concerns as per WESH, stating, "When a child has a type of operation like this, it’s going to be a really long time before we know what his prognosis is going to be."

The NTSB report revealed that out of the 500 drones used for the show, operated by Texas-based drone company Sky Elements, two were removed after a technical hiccup during the "soft reboot" failed to align them with the fleet. Despite this precaution, the show commenced, leading to the drones losing coordination and ultimately colliding mid-air.

Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has suspended Sky Elements' waiver to conduct drone shows in close proximity to crowds, a privilege that allowed for such elaborate aerial displays. As the investigations by NTSB and FAA continue, the company has temporarily grounded, with a spokesperson for the NTSB suggesting that a complete investigation could take up to two years. In the meantime, Sky Elements has proposed a series of adjustments to its operation, including added preparation time and enhanced training procedures, to curb future mishaps.