Drone Show Disaster: 427 Drones Crash in Melbourne Due to Strong Winds and Pilot Oversight
July 16, 2025
Fortunately, due to careful planning over water, there were no injuries or damages, and the event provided valuable lessons for future drone operations.
An investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau revealed that the pilot failed to recognize critical wind exceedance information, which could have prevented the crash.
The incident involved Damoda drones, which experienced autopilot failures shortly after launch, as reported by the ATSB.
The drone manufacturer is considering software updates to include alerts for adverse weather conditions, aiming to improve pilot awareness and safety.
The drone show was scheduled to coincide with a Matildas soccer match at Marvel Stadium, but the event was marred by the crash.
A key issue was that wind speed alerts were not effectively displayed on the ground control station, leading to a lack of awareness among pilots.
Damoda is planning to update their software to include wind speed alerts, emphasizing the importance of pilots being well-versed in all operational features.
During a drone light show in Melbourne in July 2023, over 400 drones crashed into the Yarra River due to strong winds exceeding their operational limits, causing a significant incident.
The ATSB investigation confirmed that wind conditions exceeded the drones' operational limits shortly after takeoff, contributing significantly to the incident.
The investigation also found that the operator lacked procedures to ensure pilots were fully trained on ground control systems, increasing the risk of mishaps.
The use of swarm technology in drones is expected to grow for applications like law enforcement and wildlife monitoring, with future models becoming smaller and more disposable.
Pilots lost control as drones began colliding and falling into the river after losing connection, with 427 of the 500 drones being unrecovered.
Drone pilots must be thoroughly familiar with all functionalities and alerts of their ground control software to prevent mishaps, especially in adverse conditions.
On July 14, 2023, a total of 427 out of 500 drones failed during the event, which was held to celebrate the Australian women's football team before the Women's World Cup.
Summary based on 2 sources
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Sources

The Guardian • Jul 16, 2025
Strong winds blamed for 427 drones falling into Yarra River during Women’s World Cup light show
The Sydney Morning Herald • Jul 15, 2025
Why hundreds of drones plunged into the Yarra