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Drones plunge into water during Sydney light show
Eighty-nine drones fell from the sky into Darling Harbour on Monday night during a performance at Vivid Sydney, prompting organisers to cancel upcoming shows while investigating the incident.
What happened
Spectators at the popular winter festival watched as dozens of drones lost control and splashed into Cockle Bay, close to crowds gathered for the display. Videos captured the moment the devices tumbled out of formation, creating confusion among onlookers.
A Darling Harbour worker, Robert, told the ABC the sound of drones hitting the marina was loud even from 15 to 20 metres away, describing the noise as a physical crash onto the cement wharf.
Cause of the malfunction
Skymagic, the UK-based company operating the drone show, attributed the failure to an unexpected change in radio frequency after take-off. The company said the shift triggered failsafe landing procedures in some drones due to compromised positional accuracy.
"During the performance on the evening of 25 May, Skymagic experienced a technical issue that resulted in 89 drones landing in the water around Cockle Bay."
Skymagic spokesperson
Skymagic confirmed no drones fell outside designated safety boundaries.
Festival response
Vivid Sydney organisers apologised for the disruption and said remaining drone performances were cancelled as a precaution. A spokesperson said the decision aligned with standard safety protocols and expressed regret for the disappointment caused to attendees.
Organisers added that Skymagic and government agencies will conduct a full review before deciding whether to resume the shows. The festival, which runs for three weeks, had scheduled 22 performances of the Star-Bound drone display over 11 nights.
About the festival
Vivid Sydney is an annual event featuring light installations, music, and ideas, drawing thousands of locals and tourists. The festival includes a 6.5km free walk with 43 light installations, including projections on the Sydney Opera House sails.
Drone shows were introduced to the programme in 2024, but last year's event excluded them due to overcrowding concerns. The Star-Bound display uses up to 1,000 custom-built drones in a 12-minute aerial performance.
