Drone News Roundup: New DJI Air 4 Leaks, Cargo Drone Rescues Man from Sinking Truck, and More!

This week we’re covering new DJI Air 4 leaks.

We’re also covering a heavy-lift drone saving a man from a sinking truck, a cinematic FPV flight over Portugal’s Ponta da Piedade, drones for avalanche rescue, and DJI’s first-ever parachute system for the Matrice 400.

Now let’s get to those links!

DJI Air 4 Moves Closer to Launch

Caught…Air 4 pic.twitter.com/qS0XJlngFW

— Igor Bogdanov (@Quadro_News) May 11, 2026

The DJI Air 4 was recently found listed on a Chinese app used by pilots to report flights, appearing to confirm that DJI is working on a follow up to the popular Air 3S. The Air 4 also recently appeared in a Chinese certification database, similar to how new drones appear in FCC filings ahead of their launch. Combined, the two leaks signal not only that the Air 4 in the works—but it may actually come out quite soon.

Here are all the rumored specs we’ve seen for the Air 4:

• Camera. Dual-camera setup with a main 1″ or 1/1.3″ sensor and a secondary telephoto camera.
• Video transmission. Upgraded from the Air 3S to the DJI O4+ transmission system.
• Flight time. Roughly 40 minutes.
• Obstacle sensing. Improved omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, with LiDAR-assisted sensing for better low-light detection.
• Other rumored features. Upgraded image processing and compatibility with DJI’s RC Track for improved subject tracking.

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Cargo Drone Rescues Man Stranded on Roof of Sinking Truck

A drone recently saved a man’s life in China. In the video above, we see emergency responders use a cargo drone to rescue a man from his sinking truck. When the vehicle became trapped in fast-moving waters, the man climbed onto its roof, and first responders scrambled to find a way to get him to safety. As the water begins to engulf the truck, we see the drone lower a rescue line, pulling the man from the sinking vehicle without endangering anyone else.

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Summer FPV Flight through Portugal’s Ponta da Piedade

In this short video, drone pilot Mazza FPV takes viewers on a fast, flowing flight through Ponta da Piedade, a stretch of dramatic sea cliffs and rock formations along Portugal’s Algarve coast. Flying low over turquoise water and weaving through towering limestone arches, the video showcases both the location’s natural beauty and the precision required to fly FPV in a challenging coastal environment.

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Drones Help Avalanche Rescue Teams Improve Response Times

Ski patrol teams at the Val Thorens ski resort in the French Alps are using a drone-in-a-box system to improve avalanche response, helping rescuers assess dangerous terrain before entering it. The system—DJI’s Dock 3 paired with the Matrice 4TD—can launch in about 10 seconds and uses a thermal camera to help locate survivors concealed beneath the snow. It can quickly survey avalanche paths, identify hazards, and evaluate access routes, giving rescuers better information without replacing their expertise.

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DJI Launches Parachute for the Matrice 400

DJI just unveiled the AP100, its first-ever parachute system. Made specifically for the Matrice 400, the AP100 can deploy automatically if the drone detects a critical failure or be triggered manually by the pilot. The system can function at low altitudes and while the drone is flying at speeds of up to 56 mph, and is designed to reduce impact energy during an emergency descent.

Parachute systems are already available from third-party manufacturers for some enterprise drones, but the AP100 marks the first time DJI has developed one itself. The AP100 gives Matrice 400 operators an integrated safety option from DJI, while also expanding the drone’s growing ecosystem for industrial and public safety missions.

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