Nearly 90 Drones Crash Into Water During Sydney Light Show After Technical Malfunction

Nearly 90 drones crashed into the water during a Vivid Sydney light show at Darling Harbour after a technical malfunction, forcing organisers to cancel upcoming performances. The UK company behind the display blamed an unexpected radio frequency change that triggered safety fail-safes, while officials said a full investigation is underway.

A drone light show over Sydney’s Darling Harbour went wrong during the Vivid Sydney festival after nearly 90 drones fell from the sky into the water, close to spectators watching the event.
Organisers said the incident happened on Monday night due to “unforeseen technical difficulties,” forcing the cancellation of several upcoming shows. Footage showed drones suddenly dropping mid-performance and splashing into Cockle Bay, causing confusion among attendees.
The UK-based company Skymagic, which designed the display, said the problem was caused by an unexpected change in radio frequency conditions after take-off. This triggered safety systems in the drones, causing them to automatically land or descend into the water to prevent further risk. The company insisted all drones fell within approved safety zones.
Witnesses described hearing loud crashes as the drones hit the wharf area, with debris landing in parts of the marina. A Darling Harbour worker said the sound of the impact was clearly audible even from a distance.
Skymagic confirmed that 89 drones were affected during the performance and said the issue activated built-in fail-safe systems designed to protect the public.
Festival organisers expressed regret over the disruption and apologised to attendees, saying the show was halted immediately in line with safety protocols. They also confirmed that a full investigation would be carried out alongside government agencies before deciding whether remaining drone shows would continue.
The drone performance, titled Star-Bound, is part of the annual Vivid Sydney festival, which features large-scale light installations, music and art across the city. The show normally uses up to 1,000 drones in coordinated aerial displays lasting several minutes.
Vivid Sydney, which began in 2009, is one of the world’s major light festivals, attracting large crowds to Sydney Harbour and surrounding areas. This year’s edition had planned 22 drone shows across 11 nights, although the future of the remaining performances is now under review following the malfunction.