It's been well over two years since monthly drone updates have been shared online covering the construction progress of Apple's second campus in California, called Apple Park. Over the weekend, drone videographer Matthew Roberts posted his latest video on YouTube, but instead of covering the newest updates to the campus, the video captured a drone that malfunctioned and crashed over Apple Park.


Roberts said the crashed drone's operator got in touch with him, asking for help in locating the downed drone on Apple's new campus and sharing the footage from the crash with Roberts. The drone that crashed is said to be one of DJI's devices, so the owner was able to review a cached version of the video on the DJI app on their phone/tablet following the incident. "There were no signs of premature failure," the owner said, and it's still unclear why the drone malfunctioned.

Roberts eventually discovered the drone crashed among the solar panels on the roof of the main Apple Park building. The drone's owner has contacted Apple and notified them of the incident, and Roberts said that "it remains to be seen" if Apple will return the drone back to its owner. In the video, it appears that the drone has remained mostly intact following the crash.

apple park drone crash video
In the latest monthly update of Apple Park shared by Roberts earlier in February, the new campus was described as seeing increased activity from employees now that more have moved in, with bicycles appearing throughout parking lots and on walkways. The maintenance facility has also been completed, but Apple is still working on landscaping in a large area located between the main building and Steve Jobs Theater.

Top Rated Comments

djeeyore25 Avatar
75 months ago
An unknown error caused the drone to crash. The drone should be named High Sierra.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
triton100 Avatar
75 months ago
Hopefully Apple will reply to him with an invoice for repair of damage to solar panels.
Just like if someone had crashed their drone on his house.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tardegrade Avatar
75 months ago
... it's still unclear why the drone malfunctioned.
Apple HQ Lazer Defence Shield, primary test - successful.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jav6454 Avatar
75 months ago
Why not use another drone to lift and take the “crashed” drone away? I don’t know much of drones, but seems logical since many of these devices can lift themselves twice over now.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chriscrk Avatar
75 months ago
Are there laws for drones flying over private property like that, especially for such a secretive company?
This seems dangerous, it could have broken one of the solar panels or even hit someone if it fell in the park area.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
whooleytoo Avatar
75 months ago
Why not use another drone to lift and take the “crashed” drone away? I don’t know much of drones, but seems logical since many of these devices can lift themselves twice over now.
...and if that one crashes, get an even bigger drone to lift the first two off.

It's drones, all the way up...
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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