Drone crash halts Chengdu–Kunming railway services for over four hours

Train services on the Chengdu–Kunming Railway were suspended for more than four hours after a heavy-lift drone crashed and ignited a fire on the tracks in Leshan, Sichuan.

The National Railway Administration said the incident occurred on the evening of June 30, when a company was carrying out an illegal test flight. The drone lost control and struck a railway bridge on the Shawan section, damaging infrastructure and halting services for 253 minutes.

Police said they received a report at around 8pm of a sudden blaze near the tracks, forcing train No.86920 to make an emergency stop. Video footage showed flames spreading along the railway embankment.

Mainland media said that a person surnamed Tang, along with two others, had launched the drone in the Meinvfeng scenic area. The crash caused an estimated loss of 190,000 yuan (HK$208,000). Tang was fined 5,000 yuan, while his company was fined 50,000 yuan.

Under the Interim Regulation on the Administration of the Flight of Unmanned Aircraft, which took effect on January 1, 2024, railway lines are classed as no-fly zones. Unauthorized drone flights within 500 metres of railway power lines can lead to fines, and serious cases may incur criminal charges.

Police reminded drone owners that all unmanned aerial vehicles must be registered under real names before flight, and operators must hold relevant qualifications.