First Responders

Police, fire, and search-and-rescue teams putting drones to work when minutes matter.

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Oct 6

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Ohio's DFR Divide: Dublin Chose DJI, Columbus Picked Skydio - What December 23 Really Means

DJI

Ohio’s DFR Gamble: Dublin’s DJI vs. Columbus’s Skydio

Two Ohio police departments, two opposite bets. As the Dec 23 DJI ban deadline looms, Dublin's autonomous DJI fleet faces risks Columbus's Skydio cruisers don't.

Haye KestelooDec 16

Paladin Drones

Paladin Drones Says Former VP Tried to ‘Plunder’ Company After Failed Power Grab

We’ve been tracking Paladin Drones’ rapid expansion across police and fire departments for over a year, but court documents filed in late October allege explosive internal turmoil at the Y Combinator-backed emergency response drone company, including accusations of corporate sabotage, an attempted leadership coup, and shouting matches between executives. According to Law360, Houston-based Paladin

Haye KestelooDec 15

Antigravity A1 First Impressions: This Invisible Drone Creates an Eye in the Sky

DJI

NDAA 2026: Local Police to Gain New Powers to Take Down Your Drone

We’ve tracked counter-drone legislation for years, but the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) changes everything for every drone pilot in America. The bill passed the House 312-112 on December 10 and awaits final Senate action this week before President Trump’s expected signature. For the first time, it creates a federal framework allowing certain…

Haye KestelooDec 15

Police

Drone Busts Chicago Railyard Burglary Before Coffee Time

Somewhere above a quiet Chicago railyard, a drone was doing its job, watching patiently, humming softly, and absolutely not impressed by what it was about to see. Early in the morning on December 5, while most of the city was asleep and a few insomniacs were still debating late night snacks, a railroad operated drone…

Rafael SuárezDec 15

Skydio

Skydio X10 Drone Nails Shoplifting Suspect on Long Island

To the drone, she was not hidden at all, just another warm shape glowing against a cooler landscape. Officers were guided directly to the location

Rafael SuárezDec 15

The High Cost of Security: Why the "Pain" of a DJI Ban Means Lives Lost, Not Just Lost Profits - Drones Favored by Utah Search and Rescue Crews: Enhancing Efficiency in Wilderness Operations

DJI

DJI Drones Save American Lives: Here’s The Proof Politicians Are Ignoring Before December 23

We have been reporting on the DJI ban for over a year, but today we are publishing something different: a comprehensive, documented record of American lives saved by the very drones that will be banned in nine days. DroneXL reader Chad Roylance compiled this list from verified news reports, first responder testimonies, and official rescue…

Haye KestelooDec 14

Police

Seven Students Expose Russia’s Drone Motherships After Intel Agencies Failed

We’ve been covering Europe’s drone crisis for months, from military reconnaissance drones shutting down Munich Airport to the EU’s scramble to build a multi-billion-euro “drone wall.” But while European intelligence agencies stumbled through bureaucratic fog, seven journalism students just delivered the most comprehensive investigation yet into who’s actually behind Germany’s mysterious drone swar

Haye KestelooDec 14

Overhead black-and-white view of a DJI Phantom quadcopter surrounded by folding DJI Mavic drones and other multirotors arranged on a white surface

Drone as First Responder

Drone Brings Lifesaving Gear to Man Trapped by Flood

Floods do not arrive politely. They do not knock, wait, or ask if you are ready. One minute a river looks high but manageable. The next minute it has decided it wants the road, the trees, and your car too. That reality played out this week in Washington state, where a powerful atmospheric river dumped…

Rafael SuárezDec 14

First Responders

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