Ski federation bans drones after near-collision with racer
VIENNA, Austria -- The international ski federation is banning camera drones from its World Cup races after a drone crashed and nearly hit Austrian skier Marcel Hirscher during a slalom in Italy.
FIS men's race director Markus Waldner tells The Associated Press that drones will be prohibited "as long as I am responsible .... because they are a bad thing for safety."
The unmanned flying object carrying a TV camera came down and shattered on the icy slope just behind Hirscher during Tuesday night's race in Madonna di Campiglio. The four-time overall champion was unhurt and continued his run, finishing second behind Norwegian winner Henrik Kristoffersen.
The company responsible for the camera drone, sports marketing agency Infront, says in a statement "the circumstances leading to (the crash) are currently being examined."