China has suspended scheduled drone shows at tourist attractions across the country as authorities increase scrutiny of low-altitude aviation following a small plane crash in Beijing, the South China Morning Post reported Monday.
Tourist attractions and event organizers in 11 provinces and regions, including Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Shandong, Guangdong and Hainan, canceled drone shows scheduled from Friday onward last week. In many cases, no specific reason was given for the cancellations.
The unusual move follows tighter aviation security measures introduced after a small training aircraft crashed into a skyscraper in Beijing’s business district in June.
The pilot died and 13 other people were injured in the incident.
Although low-altitude flights were prohibited, the aircraft entered Beijing’s main urban area, raising concerns about the security risks associated with small aircraft and drones.
The crash occurred relatively close to Zhongnanhai, the heavily secured compound that houses China’s top leadership, including President Xi Jinping.
Authorities have yet to release full details of the investigation into the crash.
Meanwhile, an unnamed drone company said in an internal document last week that it had received an order from the People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theatre Command to suspend drone operations.
The document stated that drone flights in six provinces under the command’s jurisdiction would be halted from Friday, although it did not specify when operations would resume.
The developments come as China continues to promote its “low-altitude economy” as an emerging industry covering activities, businesses and services conducted below 1 kilometer (0.62 miles), including drone operations.
Drones are widely used across China for activities such as food delivery, industrial inspections, pesticide spraying, aerial photography and light shows, as well as applications in agriculture and manufacturing.
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