Hit by a Drone Flying While Taking a Photo... Thanks to Sunglasses, It Was a Huge Relief

Without Straw Hats and Sunglasses, There Could Have Been Serious Injuries

A tourist who was trying to take photos at a famous tourist destination known as the "Maldives of China" had an accident where a drone hit their face.

According to local media such as Xiaoxiang Morning on the 9th (local time), Yuan, who recently visited Dongtai Jinai'er Lake in Qinghai, was posing for a photo when a drone flying from a distance collided with her face. At the time, Yuan's boyfriend was recording a video on his phone, which captured the drone suddenly flying toward Yuan. The drone crashed to the ground after hitting Yuan.

Mr. Yuan hit in the face by a drone. Xiao Xiang Morning, China

As a result of the accident, Yuan sustained scratches on her face and collarbone area. Fortunately, she was wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that protected her eyes, so she avoided serious injury. However, Yuan expressed that "even the sound of drones is now frightening" due to the incident. It is reported that she is currently contacting the drone company to find the person who flew the drone.

After the story was shared on social media, numerous netizens posted similar experiences of drone-related accidents. They pointed out that "drone blades are very sharp and especially dangerous when rotating at high speeds." Netizens commented, "The straw hat prevented serious injury," "If she hadn't worn sunglasses, her eyes might have been injured," and "Fortunately, the brim of the straw hat blocked the drone's propeller from injuring her temple. Without the brim, the propeller would have caused wounds." Some also argued that drones should be regulated like vehicles and that severe penalties should be imposed on those who operate drones without proper training.

China Xiaoxiang Morning

Meanwhile, China has implemented a real-name registration system for drone owners. This system requires real-name registration for drones weighing 250g or more. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has pointed out that the rapid increase in drones in recent years not only affects the normal operation of aircraft but also poses threats to national security and social safety. In August, the Public Security Bureau of Chuxi County, Yunnan Province, fined a drone operator 2,500 yuan (approximately 490,000 KRW) for flying a drone without real-name registration, which injured two tourists.

Flying drones or kites is prohibited in China's controlled airspace. Violations of this regulation result in fines ranging from 20,000 yuan (approximately 3.93 million KRW) to 100,000 yuan (approximately 19.68 million KRW). Furthermore, if a flying object affects aircraft safety or causes a major safety accident, the offender may face the death penalty.