Reunion Tower will no longer host a drone show as part of its annual New Year’s Eve celebration, officials confirmed Friday. The announcement came after a world record-holding drone company from North Texas was grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Reunion Tower President Dusti Groskreutz said in a statement that Sky Elements Drones — the company that "Rick rolled" Dallasites through a hovering QR code in 2022 — pulled out of the downtown Lone Star New Year’s Eve event “out of an abundance of caution” following a Dec. 21 mishap during a show in Florida. The company is reevaluating processes for future shows, he added.
Nonetheless, Dallas’ midnight skyscraper show is still a go, sans drones.
“Despite this change, viewers can look forward to a dazzling New Year’s Eve celebration with Reunion Tower’s 259 LED light show and the iconic fireworks spectacular lighting up the night sky,” Groskreutz said.
The FAA suspended Sky Elements Drones' Part 107 Waiver following an Orlando show at which drones began falling from the sky. A 7-year-old boy was injured and had to undergo surgery as a result of the accident. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the mishap.
The suspended license means that Sky Elements Drones cannot legally fly drones at night or over people, putting a stop to the company's intricate night shows that can display over a thousand lit-up machines. Sky Elements Drones could not be reached by phone for comment. In a statement to WFAA, the company said it “regrets” the last-minute cancellation from the Reunion Tower New Year’s Eve show.
“Our company has been honored to be part of this hometown show for the past three years. We look forward to flying again at the Tower,” the statement said.
Sky Elements was also slated to run New Year’s Eve shows for the City of Austin and events in Orlando and New York City. Those events, like the one in Dallas, have been cancelled.
What Happened in Orlando?
Videos of the Orlando incident depict the moment a Christmas-themed drone show went awry. In a chilling domino effect, some of the drones began colliding mid-air, causing them to fall to the ground. Onlookers can be heard screaming “Get Down!” in warning, as red and green drones began malfunctioning.
Adriana Edgerton’s son Alexander was hit by one of the drones with such force that one of his heart valves was damaged, she told CNN. The boy went into emergency heart surgery, and the family spent Christmas in the hospital.
“The blade cut his mouth, but there’s an actual imprint of the drone on his chest,” she said.
Rob D'Amico, a retired FBI agent who specialized in drones, told Orlando NBC affiliate WESH that anything from a technical malfunction to weather complications could have impacted the drone show. Because of the machines’ precise choreography, a seemingly minor snag could have resulted in the chaos.
"If something catastrophic happens and the drone gets blown into the wind by another drone, now it's out of control," D'Amico said. "It's not a functioning drone, and it's going down, and if its propellers are broken, it's not going to have the ability to even fly home."
It is unclear how long the FAA’s investigation into Sky Elements will last, but the company said it is complying with the review and is “committed to establishing a clear picture of what transpired.”
“Millions of people see our shows annually, and we are committed to maintaining the highest safety regulations set forth by the FAA,” Sky Elements said.
