‘Gender reveal’ stunt pilot slammed after drone mid-air near-miss and refusal to cooperate with safety probe

SHEFFIELD — A light aircraft pilot who performed “erratic orbits” and aerobatics over a Sheffield

‘Gender reveal’ stunt pilot slammed after drone mid-air near-miss and refusal to cooperate with safety probe SHEFFIELD — A light aircraft pilot who performed “erratic orbits” and aerobatics over a Sheffield housing estate while emitting pink smoke for an apparent baby gender reveal has sparked a backlash after refusing to cooperate with an official mid-air near-miss investigation. The incident, which occurred on Thursday 26 March 2026, involved a commercial DJI Matrice 4e drone and a maroon Van’s RV7 light aircraft. According to a newly released report by the UK Airprox Board (UKAB), the two aircraft came within 100 feet of a vertical collision directly over a built-up residential area.

Evasive Action Over the Suburbs The drone operator, who was capturing a local event at 100 metres (approx. 330 feet) above ground level, reported seeing the light aircraft suddenly dive into the airspace from a southeasterly direction. The RV7 began performing low-altitude, high-energy manoeuvres and tight orbits around a house while trailing pink smoke. Realising the aircraft was flying erratically and dipping below the drone’s altitude, the remote operator was forced to execute emergency defensive measures, rapidly descending the drone to 30 metres to avert a catastrophic impact.

The operator noted that had a collision been imminent, they were prepared to kill the drone’s motors entirely to protect the manned aircraft. The UKAB commended the drone operator’s meticulous planning and swift tactical response. However, the board concluded that safety had been seriously compromised, officially classifying the encounter as a Category C incident, where safety was degraded.

A Wall of Silence While the drone operator provided extensive GPS logs and third-party video footage identifying the aircraft, the investigation was severely stonewalled by the pilot of the RV7. Despite repeated requests from air safety investigators to provide a statement, the pilot flatly refused to respond. The wall of silence has drawn sharp condemnation from aviation safety advocates and the wider flying community, with many calling for tougher enforcement against pilots who evade accountability.

“The pilot, having been formally notified of a serious airprox incident, should be legally compelled to respond,” an aviation safety