A police drone crashed into Kingswood Road in West Bridgford during a search for suspects, with air accident investigators warning that the incident could have resulted in fatal injuries to someone on the ground.
The 7.2kg drone fell from the sky at around 3.23am on 1 June 2026, landing close to the junction with Burnside Road after one of its motor arms folded inwards during flight.
A report published by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) on 12 November found that the drone’s motor arm had not been properly secured and that essential checks were missing from the police operator’s pre-flight procedures.
Investigators warned that the consequences could have been much more serious had the incident occurred when more people were outside.
The report states: “If it had struck a person on the ground, it is likely that fatal injuries could have occurred.”
The incident involved a DJI M300 drone being operated by police officers searching for suspects in a residential area of West Bridgford.
Two drones were being used during the operation, an Autel MAX 4N and a DJI M300. The remote pilot had initially flown the Autel for 19 minutes before moving to a different take-off and landing location.
He subsequently switched to the DJI M300 following a request to livestream camera footage to the police control team, as video streaming from the other aircraft had proved less reliable.
The pilot reported carrying out a visual inspection before take-off, although the checklist available to him did not include a requirement to verify that the drone’s folding motor arms were correctly locked.
The drone took off normally and climbed to approximately 380 feet above the ground. The pilot carried out control checks and reported that no warning messages were displayed.
Investigators said there were very few vehicles on nearby roads and no pedestrians were visible because of the early hour.
About four minutes into the flight, the drone’s controller displayed a warning advising the pilot to land and check that the motor arms were securely fastened.
The aircraft was approximately 355 metres from its take-off location when the warning appeared.
The pilot began returning the drone to its landing site, but nine seconds later a series of further warnings appeared, including a propulsion system error.
The report says the pilot looked up and saw the drone falling before it disappeared from view.
The aircraft began spinning uncontrollably as it descended towards the ground.
Flight data showed that, at approximately 250 feet above the ground, its descent rate had reached 3,740 feet per minute. Investigators considered it likely that the speed of descent increased further before impact.
The wreckage was subsequently discovered in a residential road, with debris scattered over approximately 20 metres. The drone’s batteries had been ejected and were found on an adjoining footpath.
An examination found that three of the drone’s four motor arm locking collars remained secured, but the rear right arm’s locking collar was disengaged.
The manufacturer concluded that the crash had occurred because the rear right motor arm was not properly installed.
The AAIB also identified shortcomings in the police force’s operating procedures.
Although the pilot had positioned the drone’s folding motor arms at the beginning of his shift, there was no requirement to check that they remained fully secured before every flight.
Investigators also found that the pilot had not signed off the required pre-flight checklists for either of the flights undertaken that morning.
His body-worn video camera, which should have been activated before the pre-flight checks, was not switched on until after the drone had taken off.
Previous audits of the police drone operation had not identified that body-worn cameras were routinely being activated too late to capture the checks.
The AAIB said the absence of these safeguards was significant, particularly during operational situations in which officers may be under pressure to get aircraft airborne quickly.
The report states: “It is possible that the timeliness of getting airborne in a dynamic situation, such as when searching for suspects, could inadvertently result in procedural lapses.”
Investigators also highlighted the wider danger of operating drones above residential areas.
The AAIB concluded: “Had the flight taken place later in the day, when pedestrian and vehicle movements may have been expected to be higher, persons could have been fatally injured.”
Following the crash, the police force issued a safety notice on 24 June introducing mandatory checks of the DJI M300’s motor arm locking mechanisms.
Officers must now visually check that locking collars are correctly aligned, confirm that they engage with an audible and physical click, and ensure there is no movement in the arms once secured.
Where another pilot or flight observer is available, they must also check the security of the motor arms.
Aircraft must be grounded if the locking mechanism fails to engage correctly or shows signs of wear.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) subsequently distributed a safety notice to police forces operating the DJI M300 and informed other emergency services organisations, including the National Fire Chiefs Council.
It also recommended improved pre-flight inspections and the activation of body-worn cameras before safety assessments begin.
The AAIB said it had investigated previous accidents involving the same drone model in which motor arms had not been fully secured, including incidents involving emergency services operators.
According to the report, police forces in England and Wales completed 82,624 drone flights in the 12 months to 31 May 2026, involving 1,326 remote pilots.
The national police fleet included more than 30 DJI M300 aircraft.
Investigators noted that newer drone models incorporate sensors designed to prevent take-off if their motor arms are not properly locked.
The report also identified parachute systems as a possible additional safeguard for drones operating in urban areas.
The investigation is published in AAIB Bulletin 11/2026, under reference AAIB-31806.
