On December 8, 2024, the news of “Woman Injured on Face by Drone While Filming by the Lake” surged to the top of the hot search list. Ms. Yuan was filming at the Qinghai Cha Ka Salt Lake when a drone collided with her face, fortunately she was wearing a hat and sunglasses which softened the impact, but she still got injured. This incident has raised public concerns about the safety of drone usage.
According to Upstream News on December 7th, 2023, one day in July, Ms. Yuan and her boyfriend visited the Cha Ka Salt Lake scenic area in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province.
That day, they chose to take pictures by the lake to capture the moment. However, the peaceful afternoon was suddenly interrupted by an unexpected accident.
While Ms. Yuan was posing for the camera, a fast-flying drone suddenly appeared from the sky and directly hit her.
Luckily, Ms. Yuan was wearing a hat and sunglasses at the time, which reduced the impact of the collision.
Nevertheless, the drone still hit the brim of her hat and her face, with the propeller cutting through her clavicle area.
Recalling the incident, Ms. Yuan still shudders, saying, “It happened so suddenly, I didn’t have time to react, it’s a good thing I was wearing a hat and sunglasses, otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.”
After the incident, Ms. Yuan contacted the drone company and found the person who was operating the drone.
This experience left a psychological shadow on Ms. Yuan, to the extent that she feels scared when she hears the sound of drones now.
Following the report of the case, it has garnered significant attention from netizens. Some expressed disbelief, questioning if drone enthusiasts nowadays think they are playing in a no-fly zone. “Casually flying drones without regard for others’ safety, this irresponsible behavior must be severely punished. Compensation should be made for Ms. Yuan’s losses, including medical expenses, loss of income, and mental distress.”
Some netizens also believe drones are not toys. Drone “players” simply do not understand the serious consequences their actions could have caused.
Who should be held responsible for injuries caused by improper drone operation?
According to reports, according to relevant laws and regulations, if improper drone operation leads to personal or property damage, the operator of the drone should bear the tort liability and compensate the victim for their losses. Additionally, if there are defects in the drone manufactured or sold by the drone manufacturer or seller, they should also bear corresponding legal responsibilities.