Rescue helicopter over Kerrville flood zone collides with personal drone

As rescue and recovery operations continue in the wake of the deadly flood Kerrville flooding, authorities have complained that recreational drones are getting in the way. Now, one of the airborne devices has even collided with a search helicopter, grounding it until further notice, city officials say.

The incident occurred Monday afternoon, even though authorities had already declared the area a no-fly zone for the personal surveillance and video recording devices.

“This afternoon, a private drone illegally operating in restricted airspace collided with a helicopter involved in emergency operations in Kerr County,” the announcement from City of Kerrville — City Hall read. “The helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing, and a critical piece of response equipment is now out of service until further notice. This was entirely preventable.”

City officials had already issued a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) while search efforts are ongoing, making it illegal to fly a drone in the area. A TFR violation can result in up to one year in prison, a $100,000 fine and a revoked pilot license.
“Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are not suggestions. They are federal airspace rules designed to protect lives during emergency situations,” Kerrville City Hall’s announcement continued. “When you fly a drone in restricted areas, you’re not just breaking the law — you’re putting first responders, emergency crews, and the public at serious risk.”

This incident comes after a weekend of frequent complaints from local officials that sightseers and drone operators were getting in the way of search and rescue efforts.

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This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 9, 2025.