Chilean navy helicopter collides with DJI Mavic Air 2 drone
On January 23rd, a Chilean navy helicopter collides with a DJI Mavic Air 2 drone. A passenger onboard the helicopter got injured as a result of the collision. Photos show that the drone crashed through the windshield and seemingly hitting the person in the face.
Chilean navy helicopter collides with DJI Mavic Air 2 drone
A passenger onboard the Chilean navy helicopter suffered cuts to his face after the helicopter collided with the DJI Mavic Air 2 drone on January 23rd. The drone was reported to be a DJI Mavic 2 Pro, but that was later changed to a DJI Mavic Air 2.
Based on the photos it appears that the drone and helicopter must have hit each other at a relatively high speed with the unmanned aircraft going straight through the windshield of the Bell UH-57B (Bell 206B) JetRanger III helicopter.
The collision between the DJI drone and navy helicopter has been reported by RedTv Noticias, Defensa.com, and also listed in the Aviation Safety Network database.
The collision between the Chilean navy helicopter and the DJI Mavic Air 2 drone happened during a routine surveillance flight along the coast line.
The injured passenger has been treated by the CESFAM in Santo Domingo and was later transported to the Naval Hospital in Vi ña del Mar. He is reported to be doing well.
Many details are unclear at this point in time. We do not know the direction, elevation, and speed of both aircraft or the circumstances under which the Drone Incident happened.
We have seen near-collisions and actual collisions between helicopters and drones in the past. The most recent case is the collision between an LAPD helicopter and a DJI drone, in which case the drone pilot faces up to one year in prison.
We will follow this story closely and update the information here when we learn more.
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Photos courtesy of RedTv Noticias.
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Haye Kesteloo
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It’s a shame this type of thing ever happens. It shouldn’t.
More of this = more regulation.
Easily accessible drones that come with very little incentive to learn how to pilot safely will start to ruin a fantastic hobby. Maybe a learner mode could be added into the software for off the shelf drones, so stages have to be completed before flights of longer/higher can be done. Add a mandatory online class that is more suitable than the standard european/government ones (more a case of do this course, to cover the government if you break rules) a lot of people haven’t even bothered with, to get the drone capabilities then released?
Glad no one was killed, amazed the windscreen cracked the way it did. As a layman, you would think it would be made of stronger stuff.
Hopefully anyone seeing this takes drone safety a bit more serious. We do as we want to continue to fly in fun new ways and not be tied up in an over regulated, but useless loop. CrashAnimals FPV Ireland. (Yes I know the name doesn’t suit the comment)
P.s. good article. Not fear mongering just facts. Thank you.
I call bs
Not at all clear that the drone was doing anything wrong. The drone could have been hovering (in a legal location), and overrun by the copter. More info needed before condemnation of either pilot.
Agree. Unfortunately, no new information has surfaced as far as I am aware.
Chances are low for there NOT being some breaking of rules by drone pilot:
Every country’s regulation has “get that drone fuck out of way” priority for manned flights over drones in all airspace.
That applies regardless if you have permission from some airspace controller to fly drone. Just for start in aviation everyone is always responsible for acting to avoid collisions. So “I’ve got permission, I don’t have to care damn” = Grave offense.
Hence very likely doing wrong happened when drone wasn’t brought down (or at least to definitely safe altitude/place) when helicopter appeared in area.
And if helicopter’s approach wasn’t detected because drone was BVLOS, that itself broke regulation extremely likely.
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