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Police Drone Crashes, Nearly Causing Fatalities
15 Nov
Summary
- Drone fell 380ft during a police search for suspects.
- Pilot error cited for pre-flight checks not being performed.
- Incident could have caused fatal injuries to bystanders.
A police drone crashed onto a residential street after an apparent malfunction during a search operation. The DJI M300 drone lost control and fell 380ft approximately four minutes after launching on June 1, 2026. The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) report concluded that the incident, which occurred in West Bridgford, could have resulted in fatal injuries had the drone struck a person.
Investigators determined that the drone's pilot, who had 128 hours of flight experience, had not conducted recommended pre-flight checks or monitored the take-off via body-worn video. The AAIB report specified that the drone's motor arm was not correctly installed, leading to its malfunction. Nottinghamshire Police have since implemented enhanced pre-flight checks and issued safety notices to other emergency services using similar drone models.
