This browser does not support the Video element.
Drones crash at Orlando holiday show: 7-year-old undergoes surgery
A 7-year-old boy underwent open-heart surgery after drones came crashing down during a holiday light drone show at Lake Eola Park in Orlando, Florida.
ORLANDO, Fla. - One person was taken to an area hospital for an injury after red and green-lit drones collided and plummeted into a crowd at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando during a holiday drone show on Saturday, authorities said.
FOX 35 News spoke with the family of Alexander, a 7-year-old boy, who was injured in the incident.
His parents, Adriana Edgerton and Jessica Lumsden, said one of the drones knocked him out on impact, causing a chest injury.
Alexander, 7, underwent open heart surgery after suffering an injury during the City of Orlando's holiday drone show at Lake Eola Park on Saturday, his parents told FOX 35 News. (Credit: Adriana Edgerton)
Alexander underwent open heart surgery the following day, according to his family. FOX 35 News is working to learn an update on his condition.
RELATED | Drones crash at Orlando holiday show, injuring young boy: What happened?
A video shared with FOX 35 News captured drones crashing into the lake and veering close to spectators. Shortly after, the City of Orlando canceled the second show, citing technical difficulties in a statement on X.
A spokesperson for the City of Orlando confirmed that the FAA is leading the investigation. "We are in contact with the vendor to determine what occurred," the spokesperson said.
This browser does not support the Video element.
Drones crash at Orlando Christmas show: FAA opens investigation
The City of Orlando canceled the second show of the evening citing ‘technical difficulties’.
Typically, during a synchronized drone show, the drones are linked up by GPS. Experts suggested various potential causes for the malfunction.
Drone expert, Dr. Vivek Sharma of Florida Institute of Technology, speculated that the failure might stem from GPS interference, programming errors, or drone collisions.
It is not yet clear what led to the drone malfunctions.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:
- Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines
- Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar
- Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines
- FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV
The Source: Information provided for this article came from the Federal Aviation Administration, the City of Orlando, the Orlando Fire Department and details provided by Adriana Edgerton and Jessica Lumsden, whose son was hurt during the drone show.