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Two UVify IFO Drones Collide and Crash During London New Year's Eve Display (n/a)

Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London, GB

On December 31, 2022, an UVify IFO 1 and UVify IFO 2 (registration n/a) was involved in an aviation accident near Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London, GB. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A localised gust of wind likely caused a deviation, resulting in a collision between two unmanned aircraft that compromised their flightworthiness and led to an uncontrolled descent. This summary draws on records from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

Sourcesthe UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB)Primary reportUpdated 2026-09-13Data APIEditorial standards

Two UVify IFO drones crashed at Horse Guards Parade in London on 31 December 2022 after a wind gust caused a collision during a 400-drone display. The safety zone prevented public injuries.

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 31 December 2022 at 2359 UTC, two unmanned aircraft (UA) crashed at Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London, during a commercial public display. The aircraft involved were identified as UVify IFO 1 and UVify IFO 2, both manufactured in 2021. Each was equipped with four electric motors. The serial numbers were 213682ifod0106000497 for UVify IFO 1 and 213682ifod0106000370 for UVify IFO 2. Both airframes were damaged beyond repair. ## Flight History and Display Sequence The incident occurred during a synchronised swarm display of 400 unmanned aircraft for a New Year's Eve event. Approximately 30 seconds into the display, several aircraft briefly deviated from their pre-programmed positions for about two seconds. Five seconds later, two aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and landed within the designated safety zone at Horse Guards Parade. The remaining swarm completed the display sequence and landed without incident. ## Investigation and Probable Cause The operator conducted a detailed investigation, including analysis of on-board data logs, which found no technical reason for the deviation. Weather assessment suggested a localised gust of wind may have affected some of the aircraft. It is possible that the two aircraft that fell sustained damage by colliding with each other, compromising their flightworthiness and causing the uncontrolled descent. The operator is researching methods to measure wind speed within the display envelope to supplement ground-level preparatory measurements. ## Safety Observations The display involved 400 unmanned aircraft and attracted large numbers of people on the ground. The operator and organisers established a large safety zone on the ground, which greatly reduced the risk to the public and contributed to a safe outcome. The commander was 36 years old with 33 hours of flying experience, all on type, with 4 hours in the last 90 days and 0 hours in the last 28 days.

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