A spectacular drone display at the Vivid Sydney festival took a chaotic turn on Monday evening when nearly 90 drones malfunctioned and plunged into the waters of Darling Harbour. The aerial performance, known as ‘Star-Bound,’ was intended to be a highlight of the three-week light festival, but instead left spectators stunned as the devices tumbled from the sky and crashed into the marina and surrounding water.

Skymagic, the UK-based firm responsible for the drone choreography, attributed the mass failure to an unexpected shift in the local radio frequency environment. According to the company, this interference compromised the positional accuracy of the drones, triggering automatic failsafe landing procedures that forced the units to descend prematurely. While the company maintained that the drones remained within designated safety boundaries, witnesses reported hearing the loud impact of the hardware striking the concrete wharf.

In response to the incident, Vivid Sydney organizers have canceled upcoming drone performances while a comprehensive safety assessment is conducted alongside government agencies. The festival, which has been a staple of the city since 2009, features a wide array of light installations and cultural events, but the future of this year’s drone program remains uncertain. Officials have issued an apology to attendees for the disruption, emphasizing that the decision to halt the shows was made in accordance with standard safety protocols.