NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A drone light show planned for Central Park on New Year’s Eve has been canceled after a drone show in Florida last weekend ended with drones falling from the sky and a child hospitalized.
The drone show had been planned by New York Road Runners to coincide with its annual Midnight Run through the park on New Year’s Eve.
“As always, we are working to ensure that runners have a memorable time as they ring in 2025 at our festive NYRR Midnight Run on New Year’s Eve in Central Park,” NYRR said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of our control, we will no longer be staging our planned drone show during the race,” the organization said.
The drone show in Central Park was to be put on by Texas-based Sky Elements, the same company that held the holiday show in Orlando on Saturday that ended with drones falling from the sky and injuring a boy.
The 7-year-old and his family were watching the drone display at Lake Eola Park when “several small drones collided and fell into a crowd,” the Federal Aviation Administration.
The boy’s family told Orlando's WESH 2 News that he had to undergo open-heart surgery because a drone struck his chest and damaged a heart valve.
“The blade cut his mouth, but there’s an actual imprint of the drone on his chest,” his mother said.
In a statement, Sky Elements said it was working with officials to investigate the mishap. “The well-being of our audience is our utmost priority, and we regret any distress or inconvenience caused,” the company said.
The cancelation isn't related to the FAA's month-long ban on drone flights across the New York City area, which was implemented in response to thousands of reported sightings since mid-November, mostly in New Jersey.