Drones Strike Crowd at Orlando Holiday Event [WATCH]

A Christmas drone show at Lake Eola Park in Orlando, Florida, took a tragic turn when drones collided mid-air and plummeted into the crowd, resulting in multiple reported injuries.

Among those affected was a young boy who, according to his mothers, is now fighting for his life in the hospital.

The incident occurred during the 6:30 p.m. show on Sunday, hosted by Sky Elements Drones in partnership with the City of Orlando.

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The display featured hundreds of red and green drones forming intricate holiday-themed patterns in the night sky.

Video captured by attendees shows a sudden malfunction, with groups of drones veering off course and crashing toward the ground, causing panic among spectators.

#BREAKING: A 7-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being injured by falling drones during a Christmas holiday show that went terribly wrong.⁰⁰ #Orlando | #Florida⁰⁰A 7-year-old boy is in critical condition in the ICU after being struck by a drone during a Saturday… pic.twitter.com/v4zjupXh5v

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) December 23, 2024

In one video posted on TikTok, startled gasps and cries can be heard as drones streaked toward the crowd. A child’s voice asks, “What’s happening?” as the mishap unfolds.

@carlitosadd Drone Show accident!!! #droneshow #lakeeola #accident #downtownorlando #christmasshow #trending #viral #viralvideo #cityoforlando #scary ♬ original sound – Ivy Lopez

The Orlando Fire Department initially reported one minor injury resulting from the incident.

However, Jessica Lumedge and Adriana Edgerton, the mothers of the injured boy, shared on social media that their son sustained severe injuries after being struck in the face by one of the drones.

“Pray for my son, we went to the Drone show at Lake Eola and one of the drones hit him in the face,” Lumedge wrote in a Facebook post, accompanied by a photo of her son in a hospital bed with a bloodied upper lip.

Edgerton described her terror in another post: “I can’t believe a drone show at Lake Eola Park turned into this. I’m scared terrified for my baby.” She later shared that her son required emergency heart surgery as a result of the injuries, writing, “My baby is going into emergency heart surgery off of just trying to watch a drone show… I am beyond words beyond terrified!”

The mothers expressed their anger toward the organizers, with Edgerton writing, “[The City of Orlando] and Sky Elements Drones really have some explaining to do. They will be held accountable for what was done to my son. I pray he makes it out of this!”

Despite the accident, the show continued until its conclusion, although the City of Orlando canceled the scheduled 8 p.m. performance.

Due to technical difficulties the 8 p.m. Holiday Drone Show at Lake Eola has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience.

— City of Orlando (@citybeautiful) December 22, 2024

Andrea Otero, the city’s public information manager, confirmed to People magazine that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident.

“We are in contact with the vendor to determine what occurred with the operation,” Otero said.

Sky Elements Drones, the company responsible for the event, has yet to release a statement addressing the malfunction.

The show, intended to be a festive centerpiece for the city’s holiday celebrations, left attendees shaken.

Video footage of the incident circulated widely on social media, sparking questions about the safety protocols in place during such events.

As the investigation continues, the families affected, particularly the parents of the critically injured boy, are demanding accountability.

The FAA is investigating after “several small drones collided and fell into a crowd” during a holiday drone show at Lake Eola Park in Orlando, Florida, sending a seven-year-old boy to the hospital. @rhiannonally reports. pic.twitter.com/03hSszdkfp

— Good Morning America (@GMA) December 23, 2024

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of drone displays, particularly in public spaces with large crowds.

Further updates are expected as the FAA and city officials work to determine the cause of the malfunction and the extent of liability for the incident.

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