DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A helicopter was damaged after a collision with a drone on Saturday, the Volusia Sheriff's Office revealed in a subsequent statement. No one was hurt, but the damages to the helicopter blades will be costly.
According to the VSO's report on the incident, Leading Edge Helicopter tours had a helicopter flying in the area of the Daytona Flea Market. The drone operator, meanwhile, was operating his DJI Mavic 2 to record video for a local construction company at a height of about 180 feet.
The helicopter pilot reportedly saw the drone, but not in enough time to avoid hitting it. The drone operator was looking away at his tablet when he heard the collision, then looked up to see the drone no longer in the air where he'd maneuvered it.
The helicopter was damaged by the drone but was still able to land safely. The estimated cost of the repairs is $60,000, the Volusia Sheriff's Office said, a hefty price tag for the freak accident. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration were both notified.
