Drone News Roundup: FPV Drone Tour of Malta, Thermal Drone Helps Rescue Kayakers, and More!

This week we’re covering a new cinematic FPV drone tour of Malta.

We’re also covering first responders rescuing kayakers in New York with the help of a thermal drone, Time magazine naming the Antigravity A1 a top invention of 2025, SkyfireAI helping Ohio launch the first ever statewide DFR program, and drone manufacturing ramping up in Louisiana.

Now on to the links!

FPV Drone Tour of Malta’s Coastline

Veteran FPV creator Joshua Turner captures Malta’s rugged coastline and Mediterranean charm in this new drone video shot with a Sony ZV-E10 II mounted on a 6″ Chase FPV drone from QSL Labs. The aerial footage blends low, fast FPV passes over ancient cliffs and seaside towns with smooth interior shots, using prop guards for tighter spaces. Turner shot the footage for Econic Agency, which was hired to make a tourism campaign for the island nation.

LEARN MORE

Police Use Thermal Drone to Rescue Kayakers on Allegheny River

The Olean Police Department in Olean, New York recently used a Mavic 3 Thermal to find and rescue three kayakers stranded on the Allegheny River at night. Called to action just before 8 p.m., emergency responders launched the drone to scan the area for heat signatures. They quickly found the kayakers with the help of the thermal drone, and safely brought them back to shore. Watch the video for shots of the thermal footage that helped find the kayakers.

LEARN MORE

Antigravity A1 Makes TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025—Before It Even Ships

TIME Magazine has named the Antigravity A1 one of the Best Inventions of 2025—before you can even buy it. Antigravity is Insta360’s drone spinoff, and the A1 is its first drone. The Antigravity A1 is the first 360 drone designed from the ground up around an integrated dual-lens 360° camera system. This setup captures full panoramic video simultaneously, removing the need for a gimbal or manual camera direction during flight, enabling real-time stitching for immersive footage. Until the A1, 360 drones had to be made by attaching 360 cameras to drones, with each piece of technology made by different manufacturers.

LEARN MORE

Ohio Launches First Ever Statewide Drone First Responder Program

Credit: SkyfireAI

The state of Ohio recently announced plans to launch a two-year statewide Drone First Responder (DFR) pilot program in the summer of 2026. The program will be managed by SkyfireAI and CAL Analytics, equipping police, fire, and EMS agencies with drones, training, and FAA-approved BVLOS operations. In a DFR program, drones are deployed immediately to the scene of emergency calls, providing enhanced situational awareness for those arriving on the scene and improving emergency response times. The statewide DFR program will begin accepting applications from Ohio public safety agencies next month, with a focus on supporting smaller departments to integrate drones into 911 systems.

LEARN MORE

Drone Industry Growth Expands in Louisiana with 3rd Major Manufacturer

Credit: DMR Technologies

DMR Technologies has announced plans to open its first full-scale U.S. drone manufacturing facility in Lafayette, Louisiana, the third drone company to make headlines in the region this year. The 10,000-square-foot site will focus on assembling DMR’s Field Ranger X50 drone for agriculture and industrial use cases, creating 521 direct jobs and over 1,200 total regional jobs. SoLA Drones is also based in Lafayette, and logistics company Blueflite recently announced plans to roll out medical drone delivery in the area.

LEARN MORE

Make sure to sign up for our free weekly newsletter using the button below so you can get our weekly newsletter every Saturday, with this roundup and our other featured stories from the week.