During a search operation in the Oxfordshire countryside, a UK police drone lost connection with the controller and was found miles away in a children’s playground the next day, a report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has found.
According to the report, a $7,000 Parrot Anafi USA drone was being operated at night above a quarry to support search operations by Thames Valley Police. The pilot had completed preflight checks and checked the weather forecast before the flight.
However, as he gradually positioned the drone to hover over the quarry – approximately 120 meters away from the takeoff point – the pilot became aware of the presence of mist in the area. The blue LED visibility light on the aircraft also became harder to see, the pilot told the investigators.
As he was uncertain of the orientation of the drone, the pilot activated the Return to Home (RTH) function but the aircraft did not fly toward the takeoff point as he expected. He…
