Drone Incidents

Near-misses, crashes, airspace violations, and arrests — when drone flights go wrong.

237

Articles

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Reporters on beat

Oct 9

Last updated

United States

New DIRT Program Trains Personnel on Grounded Drones

DIRT picks up where that training ends. A drone that has crashed, been shot down, been abandoned, or been found near sensitive infrastructure

Rafael SuárezMay 7

DJI Mini 5 Pro Best Settings Guide - Best Deals on Amazon for DJI Drones - The Toy Association lobbied its way to an FCC toy-drone exemption while DJI, Autel, and the operators who fly for a living stay banned. A look at who wins in Washington.

Wildfire

Okanagan Lake DJI Drone Pilot Fined CAD $5,000 After Helicopter Pilot Broke Off Firefighting to Chase Him

A British Columbia court has ordered Kelowna realtor Derek Leippi to pay a CAD $5,000 fine (roughly USD $3,600) for flying a DJI drone from a boat on Okanagan Lake during the 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire, an incident that pulled a helicopter pilot off fire suppression to chase the unmanned aircraft. PetaPixel reported the sentencing…

Haye KestelooApr 17

Police

South Korea’s Lee Becomes First President to Express Regret to North Korea Over Civilian Drone Incursions

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret to North Korea over civilian drone incursions. Kim Yo Jong called it "wise" in a rare conciliatory move.

Haye KestelooApr 6

Department of Homeland Security

Mexican Cartels Launch 221 Drone Attacks

Mexican drug cartels are no longer just trafficking narcotics across borders. They are building a low cost air force, as Small Wars Journal reports. A new report from the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center, based at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, documents 221 weaponized drone incidents in Mexico between 2021 and 2025.…

Rafael SuárezFeb 19

Drone Incidents

Unknown Drone Crashes Into Key Polish Helicopter Base

Poland just had two unexpected visitors drop out of the sky, and neither knocked before landing. In early February, an unidentified drone fell onto the grounds of the 1st Air Cavalry Battalion in Leźnica Wielka, central Poland. This is not just any military site. The base serves as a key helicopter hub for Poland’s land…

Rafael SuárezFeb 11

DroneShield Secures $25.3 Million Defense Deal in Latin America

Drone Incidents

Navy Downs Unauthorized Drone at Whidbey Island Base

The incident immediately raised alarms because the base plays a critical role in U.S. electronic warfare operations and hosts the Navy’s carrier

Rafael SuárezFeb 5

Kent Police DJI M30T that wrecked in the Isle of Sheppey on August 2nd, 2025.

DJI

AAIB’s “Record-Only” Kent Police Drone Crash Investigation Raises Troubling Questions About UK Police Drone Oversight

I've read the Air Accident Investigation Branch's newly released findings on the Kent Police drone crash that injured a child last August, and I'm genuinely troubled

Haye KestelooJan 9

Contraband

Prisons Face a Growing Threat From Smuggling Drones

Drones were supposed to bring us sunset photos, roof inspections, and the occasional wedding video with questionable music choices. Instead, they are now running prison logistics like an airborne Amazon Prime, except the packages include drugs, phones, and the occasional criminal mastermind business plan. According to officials speaking with ABC News, drones have become one…

Rafael SuárezDec 15

Drone Incidents

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