West country air ambulance pilots report record levels of drone disruption during missions
Drones have threatened emergency missions, risking serious delays
Helicopter pilots working for air ambulances across Bristol and the wider South West have issued a serious warning to drone operators after a surge in disruptions to emergency flights.
According to recent figures, 2025 saw record levels of interference from drones during critical air ambulance missions, affecting operations across the UK.
Drones being flown too close to helicopters in an attempt to capture footage for social media led to a number of missions being delayed or even aborted.
Pilots from the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, which services Bristol, Bath, and surrounding areas, stress the urgency of addressing this danger due to the potential impact on patient outcomes.
James Moorhouse, Chief Pilot for Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, said this poses a significant safety risk given the absence of onboard drone detection systems.
Collisions with drones could have catastrophic consequences, particularly during life-saving missions responding to incidents such as road traffic accidents and cardiac arrests.
Helicopters often land in unpredictable locations, from city streets in Bristol to rural spots across Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, making it difficult to anticipate drone activity.
Jonathan Nicholson from the Civil Aviation Authority joins air ambulance pilots in urging drone users to adhere strictly to regulations prohibiting flights near emergency response scenes.
UK drone regulations state that flying near emergency incidents without permission is illegal, with penalties including imprisonment for endangering aircraft.
Despite these rules, the problem is evolving due to an estimated one million drones in the UK, with over half a million operators.
Nicholson said: “Air ambulance pilots and the UK Civil Aviation Authority are calling on drone pilots to fly safely and sensibly and follow the rules when they fly.”