'Malfunctioning' ski drone grounded on purpose

A malfunctioning drone which crashed just inches from Austrian ski star Marcel Hirscher in a World Cup slalom race was deliberately brought to the ground to prevent it from spiralling out of control, the organisers said Wednesday.
The terrifying incident happened Tuesday at the Italian resort of Madonna di Campiglio when the drone, which was being used to film the action from above, came crashing down to the ground just behind 26-year-old Hirscher.

"The initial technical report indicates a malfunction of the drone. According to the drone operating company, the most likely reason is a strong and unforeseen interference on the operating frequency, leading to limited operability," said a statement from Infront Sports & Media.

"Detecting this, the pilot followed the official security procedure, purposely flying the drone as close as possible to the ground before releasing it.

"The aim was to destroy the drone, in order to prevent it from losing control."

The company added that the device as well as its pilot was provided by a third party.

"We very much regret that this happened and especially that it was in close proximity to an athlete, in this case Marcel Hirscher," they said.

"We are extremely relieved that no one was hurt and apologise once again to Marcel Hirscher, as well as to the FIS (international ski federation), the Austrian and Italian Ski Federations and the Local Organising Committee."

The broadcaster as well as the FIS said that the use of drones for broadcast purposes at races will be suspended "until a fully secured operation can be ensured".
Overall World Cup leader Hirscher finished in second place behind Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen and joked that he'd had an early Christmas present.

"That's my Christmas present! I'm not hurt and I was lucky," he said.

However, Hirscher then took a more serious tone with journalists when adding: "It's unbelievable, it's incredible, shameful."

Hirscher revealed he had no idea at the time what had happened, believing an official charged with flattening out the piste after a competitor's run had hit the ground.

"I just heard a noise, I thought a groomer had fallen over," said Hirscher.

The crash has convinced some competitors that drones have no place flying over a skiing race.

"That drone almost crushing @MarcelHirscher WHAT!!!" said American skier Steve Nyman on Twitter.

"Drones=good idea. Flying over people=bad idea."

While countries like Austria, Switzerland and France do not allow drones to be flown over crowds of people, that is not the case in Italy.

It's not the first time a major sporting event has been disrupted by a wayward drone.

In October 2014, a European Championship qualifying match in Belgrade between Serbia and Albania was halted when violence broke out on and off the field after a drone flew over the pitch.

The drone was carrying a flag bearing a map of 'Greater Albania', which included Serbia, in a clear provocation between two Balkan nations with fragile ties, particularly since Kosovo, a former province of Serbia populated by mostly ethnic Albanians, declared independence in 2008 -- a move not recognised by Belgrade.

At September's US Open tennis tournament, eventual women's champion Flavia Pennetta's second round match against Monica Niculescu was disrupted by a drone flying over the court and crashing in the stands.

Italian Pennetta admitted to being terrified by the incident at the time, believing it to be a bomb.

"I was a little bit scared, I have to say," Pennetta said. "I mean, with all the things that happen now in the world, I'm imagining, 'OK, it's a bomb'.

"That was my first reaction. I think it's normal to think something like that."

A teacher from New York City was later arrested and faced a charge of reckless endangerment.
Source: AFP