Remembering The Dangerous Drone Mishap That Nearly Took Out A Legendary Ski Racer

"Quite honestly, if I look at the pictures from the drone crash on the internet, I get sweaty palms and tremble. -Marcel Hirscher"

"The drone fell from a height of 65 feet. A camera payload that heavy falling from that high could have easily been fatal if it had been a direct hit."

"The drone pilot had been directed not to fly directly over the course and maintain a 50-foot distance from the racer at all times but obviously neither of these instructions were followed."

During a 2015 World Cup ski race at Madonna di Campiglio in Italy, a 22-pound broadcast television drone lost control and crashed toward Marcel Hirscher while he was racing. The drone fell from a height of 65 feet, creating a potentially fatal hazard had it struck the skier directly. The drone pilot had been instructed to maintain a 50-foot distance from the racer and avoid flying directly over the course, but these safety protocols were not followed. The incident deeply affected Hirscher, who later expressed that viewing pictures of the crash caused him physical distress. This dangerous occurrence resulted in a temporary ban on drone usage at World Cup events that lasted for several years.

Read at Unofficial Networks