A drone crash at Boston's City Hall Plaza injured two attendees during TNT's pregame coverage of the Celtics opening night watch party, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The incident occurred just after 8 p.m. on 22 October while the drone was filming a musical performance by Shaboozey during the TNT American Express Road Show.
The accident occurred when a Mavic 3 Cine drone struck a light pole while navigating between trees, causing it to fall into the crowd. Arlington resident Derek Scrima sustained serious injuries with heavy bleeding to his right hand, describing the experience as "like a mini panic attack." A second victim reported significant pain in her head, neck, and left shoulder and was transported to the hospital for treatment. The operator, identified as a CNN employee with valid FAA credentials, remained on scene and the damaged drone was returned to CNN's vice president of tech operations. Both TNT and CNN are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.
While this incident involved an identified operator who took responsibility, many similar cases result in operators fleeing the scene, leaving venue owners and property managers to face potential liability claims. According to drone expert Chris Rudolph, a DARTdrones instructor and pilot, flying over large crowds requires special FAA waivers and additional safety measures, including visual observers for areas with obstacles like trees and utility poles.
Modern drone detection systems, like those provided by AirSight, enable security teams to monitor all drone activity in protected airspace in real-time. By tracking flight paths and instantly identifying operator locations, these systems provide critical data that can help apprehend unauthorized pilots who attempt to evade responsibility after an incident. This capability is particularly valuable when unauthorized operators try to flee the scene, as the system maintains a complete record of the drone's trajectory and the pilot's location.
For venues and businesses looking to protect themselves from drone-related liability and enhance their security measures, drone detection software offers a proactive solution to an increasingly common problem. For more information about drone detection and tracking solutions, contact our team.
Image source: CBS News
