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7-Year-Old Undergoes Heart Surgery After Drone Malfunction at Orlando Holiday Show

A drone collision during a holiday light show at Lake Eola Park left a young boy critically injured, prompting an FAA investigation into the incident.

Drones take off for a practice flight of a a holiday show in Holly, Michigan in this Nov. 16, 2021 file photo. A holiday drone show in Orlando, Florida took a tragic turn when more than a dozen of the aircrafts fell from the sky, leaving a child injured, on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024.
Strollers enjoy the festive holiday lights at Lake Eola Park on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. On Saturday thousands lined up to see the annual holiday drone show but it ended abruptly after drones collided and fell from the sky into the crowd. One drone struck a little boy and left him hospitalized.  (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Falling drone seriously injures boy during Florida holiday show.
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Overview

  • Alexander Edgerton, 7, was struck in the chest by a falling drone during a holiday light show in Orlando, causing severe injuries that required emergency open-heart surgery.
  • The incident occurred on Saturday night when several drones collided mid-air and fell into a crowd of approximately 25,000 spectators at Lake Eola Park.
  • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the malfunction, which involved drones operated by Sky Elements Drones under FAA regulation.
  • The boy’s family has criticized the City of Orlando and the drone vendor, calling for accountability and increased safety measures at public events.
  • The second scheduled drone performance was canceled due to technical difficulties, and Sky Elements Drones has pledged to work with the FAA and city officials to determine the cause of the malfunction.