A photographer has been fined by Brighton Magistrates Court for losing control of a drone during a Fatboy Slim concert in 2022, and narrowly missing the legendary DJ on stage. Giles Dalby, the owner of the drone, put the equipment into sport mode, increasing the risk of danger to both the DJ and the 8,500 crowd. Despite insisting that he meant no harm and only wanted to capture a slow cinematic video of the show, flight recording data showed Dalby ignoring multiple warnings as the drone flew out of control and crashed. The defendant was charged with recklessly or negligently allowing an aircraft to pose a risk to a person or property under the Air Navigation Order 2016. Multiple news outlets regarding drone usage covered the story, with DroneDJ reporting that Dalby was issued with several fines totalling £891.
The increasing popularity of aerial photography has led to drones being increasingly deployed at live music events. However, the use of drones does not come without risk. In June 2023, at EDC (Electronic Daisy Carnival) Las Vegas, attendee Jacquelyn Heywood was injured by a drone which crashed into her face and neck during GRiZ’s set. In contrast, actor Kai Ko was reportedly disfigured on the set of a Netflix show by a drone, reportedly needing 20-30 stitches in his face.
As drone usage increases, accidents involving drones are sparking conversations around drone safety and regulation. The safe and legal usage of drones in the UK can be found on the government website
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