HK$1 million in damage caused by GPS jamming that caused 46 drones to plummet during Hong Kong show
- Expert says powerful device must have been used given how far machines were from land
- Online search shows large range of drone jamming and hacking electronics available for sale
The GPS jamming that caused 46 drones to plummet during a display over Victoria Harbour during the weekend caused at least HK$1 million (US$127,500) in damage, according to a senior official from the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening at the annual Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, where 100 drones performed a choreographed light show commemorating the event’s 10th year.
The board’s executive director, Anthony Lau Chun-hon, said on Monday it was “unfortunate” that the event had been disrupted so badly.
“These are professional drones, which are already built with technologies that would direct them back to the take-off origin,” he said. “But the signals were so strong that many of them just dropped from the air.”
Drone display cancelled after 40 machines damaged
Tourism board chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok said the culprit not only upset hundreds of thousands of visitors at the wine and dine event but also damaged Hong Kong's reputation.