What happened
On the night of 31 December 2022, a large-scale synchronized drone display was being conducted over Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, London. The operation involved a swarm of 400 unmanned aircraft (UA) performing a programmed light show for a New Year's Eve public event. Approximately 30 seconds into the flight sequence, several drones in the swarm momentarily drifted from their intended flight paths for roughly two seconds. Shortly after this deviation, two specific units, identified as UVify IFO 1 and UVify IFO 2, entered an uncontrolled descent. The two UVify IFO drones struck the ground within the designated safety zone. While the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair, there were no injuries to the public or crew.
The investigation
An investigation was launched following the loss of the two aircraft. The operator performed a comprehensive review of the onboard data logs from the affected drones. This analysis revealed no internal technical malfunctions or software errors that could account for the flight path deviation. Meteorological assessments conducted during the inquiry suggested that localized wind gusts were present at the time of the incident. The investigation considered the possibility that these gusts caused the two drones to collide mid-air, leading to the loss of control and subsequent crash.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was likely a localized gust of wind that disrupted the flight stability of the drones.
- It is probable that the two drones collided with one another due to this atmospheric disturbance.
- The established ground safety zone effectively prevented any harm to the spectators present at the event.
- The remaining 398 drones in the swarm were able to complete their programmed maneuvers and land safely.