A helicopter on a tour sustained over $50,000 in damage after a drone crashed into the aircraft in Volusia County over the weekend.
The incident took place on Saturday, December 30, in the area of the Daytona Beach Flea Market at 1425 Tomoka Farms Road, according to a statement issued by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
The drone operator told authorities that he was using a DJI Mavic 2 Pro to record video for a construction company at a heigh of about 180 feet. The operator says he was looking down at his tablet when he heard a loud impact and noticed his drone was no longer in the air.
The pilot of the helicopter says he saw the drone through his windshield just before impact and was unable to avoid it.
The helicopter was able to safely land. According to the crew, the damage to the helicopter’s rotor blade is estimated at $60,000.
The drone was destroyed as a result of the accident.