What happened
On 18 August 2024, at approximately 18:30 UTC, a DJI Ultralight Mini 2 was being operated as part of a private unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flight near the Nottingham carnival in Nottinghamshire. During the flight, a minor who was accompanying the remote pilot issued a command to land the aircraft. At the moment of the descent, the remote pilot was distracted by a conversation with another individual. As the drone approached the ground, it collided with an uninvolved minor who was positioned on another person's shoulders. The impact caused a cut to the child's forehead. Following the incident, police arrived at the scene and took possession of the aircraft, which was subsequently destroyed.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the flight and the lack of oversight during the landing sequence. Investigators established that the drone was being operated over crowds of uninvolved people and was not displaying an Operator ID, which is a requirement under the Drone and Model Aircraft Code. The investigation also sought to determine the purpose of the flight and whether any safety protocols were in place. However, the AAIB was unable to ascertain what risk assessments, if any, had been performed by the remote pilot prior to the operation.