September 2, 2025
The City of Watsonville is issuing the following statement regarding the incident that occurred during the Fire in the Sky Open House at Watsonville Municipal Airport.
Our thoughts are with the two people who were injured during this unfortunate incident. We are hoping for their safe and speedy recovery.
The City continues to work closely with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. To maintain the integrity of their investigation, any additional information regarding the incident will come directly from the Sheriff’s Office.
As previously shared, at approximately 7:02 PM on Saturday, August 30, a remote-controlled aircraft went off course and struck two individuals outside of a home on Buena Vista Drive. Two adults were injured and taken to the hospital. One suffered moderate injuries, and the other sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The remote-controlled aircraft also caused damage to the exterior of the residence. Watsonville Police, Fire, Airport personnel, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol responded immediately to assist.
The safety and well-being of our community are always our top priority, and we remain committed to ensuring all City events are conducted safely.
August 30, 2025
During a demonstration at the Fire in the Sky Open House at Watsonville Municipal Airport, a remote-controlled airplane went off course and struck two people outside of a home on Buena Vista Drive at about 7:02 this evening.
Sadly, two adults were injured and taken to the hospital. One sustained moderate injuries, and the other sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The remote-controlled aircraft also caused damage to the exterior of the residence. Watsonville Police, Fire, Airport personnel, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol responded immediately to assist.
The City’s top priority is the safety and well-being of our community. Any further details regarding the incident will come from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, the lead agency investigating this incident.