Roger Fingas
Illustrating the risks of flying over Apple Park, a pilot crashed a drone into the complex over the weekend, requiring the help of a fellow pilot to locate the wreckage.
The drone was over the main ring when it suddenly lost control, plummeting downwards. There were no signs that it was about to fail, its owner told the rescue pilot, Apple Park flyover specialist Matthew Roberts.
Roberts flew a DJI Phantom 4 Pro over the campus, eventually discovering the crashed drone wedged in between rooftop solar panels. The craft appears to have been mostly intact, and its owner notified Apple about the incident. So far there's been no sign of a response, which may make the property's return unlikely.
Roberts and other drone operators regularly fly over the main ring, known as the "spaceship." Apart from its unusual architecture, the building attracts people wanting to record construction and landscaping progress and/or generate publicity by sharing the footage with media outlets.
Apple could potentially crack down on pilots, since a future crash might damage equipment or hit someone walking in the campus courtyard.
Christine McKee
Andrew Orr
Charles Martin
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Wesley Hilliard
48 Comments
Lucky IF the crashed Drone did not damage any panels. One thing is the cost of Not getting your drone back. The other more costly matter, would be the bill to repair/replace, a damaged panel/property.
I wonder if Apple are emitting a drone-killing signal?
Ands if that drone damaged any of those solar panels I’m sure the drone’s owner will not be pleased with the bill he gets from Apple. As for the drone itself, good luck getting it back after trespassing on Apple’s private property.
I would not give back the $1500 drone.
Fly at your own risk.
And if damages, sue for those too.