Drone Crashes into Crowd at Florida Christmas Show

Florida : In a shocking incident during a Christmas drone show at Lake Eola in Orlando, Florida, several people were injured after drones collided mid-air and crashed into the crowd below. The collision sent the drones falling at high speed, injuring attendees, including a young boy, who his mother says is now fighting for his life in the emergency room.

The mishap occurred during the 6:30 pm show, which featured hundreds of drones lighting up the night sky in a dazzling display. However, as the show progressed, some drones began to malfunction, breaking ranks and plummeting toward the audience without warning. The crowd was left in a state of panic as drones streaked toward the ground. One video shared on TikTok shows a drone plummeting while the audience gasps in horror, with frightened children screaming in the background.

Among those injured was 8-year-old Alezander, who was reportedly struck in the chest by a rogue drone. His mother, Jessica Lumedge, posted a heartfelt update on Facebook, pleading for prayers as her son awaited surgery. “Pray for my son, we went to the Drone show at Lake Eola and one of the drones hit him in his chest, he is awaiting surgery. JUSTICE FOR ALEZANDER,” she wrote.

Another mother, Adriana Edgerton, shared an update expressing her fear for her child’s condition. “God please be with me! My baby is going into emergency heart surgery off of just trying to watch a drone show at Lake Eola Park!” she wrote. Edgerton added that the City of Orlando and Sky Elements Drones, the company responsible for the show, need to be held accountable for the accident.

Despite the shocking incident, the show reportedly continued, although the 8:00 pm performance was canceled due to “technical difficulties,” as announced by the City of Orlando on social media. The statement also indicated that the issue was under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The Orlando Fire Department reported one minor injury in connection with the incident, but the focus has shifted to determining the cause of the drone malfunction. Andrea Otero, the city’s public information manager, stated that the city is in contact with Sky Elements Drones, and the FAA is handling the investigation into the malfunction.

A GoFundMe page has been established to support Alezander’s medical expenses. Lumedge shared details of the fundraiser, calling for community support for her son, who is undergoing surgery following the drone strike. “Our family would be so grateful for support for Alezander,” the page reads.

As the investigation continues, the tragic event raises questions about the safety of drone shows and the precautions needed to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.