Rogue Drones Cause Chaos at Christmas Event, Leave 7-Year-Old Boy Seriously Injured

A 7-year-old boy required open-heart surgery after being struck in the chest by a malfunctioning drone on Saturday night in Orlando, Florida.

Adriana Edgerton, who was attending a drone show at Lake Eola with her children, recounted the incident to WESH in Florida.

“Everyone’s natural instinct was to duck and scatter, and before we realized it, my daughter found my son on the floor unconscious. He had blood coming out of his face,” Edgerton explained.

“This should not have happened, and no family should be going through this. We were trying to watch a show and have a good time,” she added.

Disturbing footage captured the moment several drones went out of control, crashing into the unsuspecting crowd below.

According to Edgerton, the drone struck her son in the chest with such force that it crushed one of his heart valves. “The blade cut his mouth, but there’s an actual imprint of the drone on his chest,” she said.

The drone malfunction occurred during the first of two scheduled shows that evening, prompting the city to cancel the second performance, Click Orlando reported.

The FAA is currently investigating the incident. However, the cause of the malfunction remains unclear.

“Drone arrays and light shows are subject to FAA regulation,” the FAA stated, according to WESH. “Typically, these events require a waiver to the regulation that prohibits operating more than one drone at a time. We thoroughly review each drone show application to ensure the safety of both the flying public and people on the ground.”

As Edgerton waited in the emergency room, she shared a heartfelt update on social media. She later revealed on a GoFundMe page that her son would be spending Christmas in the intensive care unit.

Sky Elements Drones, the Texas-based company responsible for the aerial show, released a statement expressing their concern.

“Sky Elements Drones wants to extend our sincere hope for a full and speedy recovery to those impacted at our Lake Eola show in Orlando on Saturday, Dec. 21,” the statement read, as reported by Click Orlando. “The well-being of our audience is our utmost priority, and we regret any distress or inconvenience caused.

“We are diligently working with the FAA and City of Orlando officials to determine the cause and are committed to establishing a clear picture of what transpired. Millions of people see our shows annually, and we are committed to maintaining the highest safety regulations set forth by the FAA.”