CANBERRA, July 15 (Xinhua) -- More than 400 drones fell into Melbourne's Victoria Harbor during a 2023 light show due to high wind and pilot error, a report said on Tuesday.
Soon after 500 Damoda Newton V2.2 drones launched for a nighttime show on July 14, 2023, the pilot noticed several out of position, confirmed visually and on the control system, according to an investigation released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
As system errors mounted, drones shifted toward their display positions, leading to mid-air collisions. The pilot ordered the swarm to hold position and tried to recover the most affected drones, but lost connection with nearly 400, the report said.
Ultimately, 427 out of 500 drones crashed into the harbor, according to the investigation, which highlights crucial gaps in operator knowledge of system features and the need for more robust safety protocols.
The operator did not ensure pilots were trained on essential software features, increasing the risk of missed alerts, while the control software failed to actively warn about hazardous wind speeds, ATSB said.
"Compliance with operational guidelines and limitations set or approved by the regulator is critically important to minimize risk to both the operation and the public," said ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell. ■