8,000 spectators gathered at Seattle’s Angle Lake this July 4th to watch what was supposed to be a captivating LED drone show celebrating the holiday. Instead of the promised show, however, attendees were confused as the drones stood completely still, moved erratically, and eventually slowly descended into the lake below.
WATCH: Disney World’s ‘Dreams That Soar’ is a limited-time drone show above Lake Buena Vista
According to the city, GPS disruption prevented the drones from orienting themselves properly, ultimately resulting in over 50 drones splashing down into the lake. Seattle’s Fox 13 reports that the show operator, Great Lakes Drones Company, has offered the city a full refund of $40,000 after the malfunction.
“Luckily, the drone show operator, Great Lakes Drones Company, has offered to give us a full refund,” Gwen Volpel, Deputy City Manager of Sea-Tac, told Fox 13. “He was devastated by what happened. His equipment was worth a lot more than what we paid him for the show, and he wants to make it right.”
Divers have thus far recovered 48 drones from the bottom of the lake, and investigations are ongoing as to exactly what resulted in the GPS disruption.
