Strong winds blamed for 427 drones falling into Yarra River during Women’s World Cup light show

A drone show for the Matildas failed to go as planned when strong winds caused more than 400 drones to descend into the Yarra River in Melbourne on 14 July 2023. Photograph: ATSB

Strong winds have been blamed for more than 400 drones falling from the sky into Melbourne’s Yarra River during a light show celebrating the Matildas before the Women’s World Cup.

The light show, using 500 Damoda drones, was scheduled for the evening of 14 July 2023 over the river in Docklands, in Melbourne’s CBD.