News Desk
Police are probing the crash of drones deployed during the opening ceremony of Velana International Airport’s new terminal, following a complaint from the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), which runs the airport. Approximately 1,000 drones illuminated the night sky with scenes of Maldives’s independence and the storied history of Velana Airport, alongside the nation’s largest-ever fireworks display. But the spectacle faltered when some drones plummeted onto the runway and scattered across the airport grounds.
A leaked letter from MACL Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef to Police Commissioner Ismail Naveen, now circulating on social media, details the incident’s fallout. Shareef expressed regret over the breach of confidentiality but confirmed the police are investigating.
The letter claims the drones lost signal during the show’s final formation, spiralling out of control. Some crashed; others vanished entirely. MACL and the drone show operator, the letter states, suffered significant losses. The operator suspects third-party interference with the drones’ frequency, citing a flawless rehearsal, signal disruptions reported by other technical staff at the airport, and a fully functional system post-reset. Yet the precise cause remains elusive.
The number of downed drones is still under review. Police say they’re questioning those involved and gathering evidence. The letter urges a thorough inquiry, as the operator assesses the scale of its damages. On the same night, 19 other locations in the Male’ region hosted fireworks displays, though no issues were reported there.
