During high‑intensity, search-and-rescue missions amid the July 4 flash floods in Central Texas’ Hill Country, a privately operated drone struck a rescue helicopter over Kerr County, officials confirmed.
The collision occurred Monday afternoon in restricted airspace designated for emergency operations. According to the city of Kerrville, the drone forced the helicopter to make an emergency landing and resulted in a critical asset being taken out of service , Houston’s KPRC-TV reported.
The city of Kerrville described the incident as “entirely preventable,” emphasizing that temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) are enforceable rules—not suggestions. TFRs continue to remain in effect for some parts of the affected region.
Authorities stressed that responders rely on unimpeded airspace to perform fast and coordinated rescues. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice and others urged the public to avoid flying any private drones in the area until the search concludes
The city did not disclose the type and operator of the helicopter that is now out of service. Multiple aviation assets have been deployed to the region, including an MQ-9 military drone.
The collision occurred against the backdrop of one of the deadliest flash floods in Texas history. Torrential rainfall along the Guadalupe River swept through numerous canyon areas.
As of Tuesday, over 100 fatalities have been confirmed across multiple counties, with dozens more still missing.
