Drone News Roundup: Vietnam with the Mavic 4 Pro, What to Do If You Crash Your Drone, and More!
BY Zacc Dukowitz
16 June 2026This week we’re covering a cinematic drone video shot in Vietnam on the Mavic 4 Pro.
We’re also covering practical advice for avoiding drone crashes, WingXpand’s backpack drone for disaster response, a drone show at our flight instructor Ken’s wedding, and a call for responding to Drone Industry Insights 2026 survey.
Now let’s get to those links!
Vietnam with the Mavic 4 Pro
YouTuber davetke2002 recently shared this cinematic footage of Vietnam shot with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro. The video features footage of the iconic rice terraces the country is known for, opening at dawn and following the landscape through changing light conditions. It’s a peaceful, dreamy glimpse of another world, with beautiful shots of the terraces and people in ceremonial clothing walking the green fields. Watch it for a quiet escape from the chaos of the day—and the impressive quality of footage you can capture with the Mavic 4 Pro.
LEARN MORE
How to Avoid Crashing Your Drone
Crashing your drone is pretty common, especially for newer pilots. But a lot of crashes are actually preventable. In this video, we cover four tips to help you avoid common mistakes that can lead to crashing, including:
- Start by hovering your drone. This lets you take stock of how the drone’s doing while also checking flying conditions.
- Position the drone correctly. Make sure the camera is facing away from you, so the drone goes where you intend for it to go.
- Understand the area. Knowing what’s around you and where potential obstacles might be can help you avoid potential collisions, and improve your overall sense of where you can safely fly after you take off.
- Be cautious flying near objects. A lot of crashes happen when a pilot accidentally collides with an object while flying. That’s why it’s important to be aware of objects in the area, and be especially careful when flying near them.
Watch the video for more details on all of these tips.
LEARN MORE
WingXpand Wants to Put a Long-Range Drone in Every Responder’s Backpack
The XRAI Smart Plane | Credit: WingXpand
WingXpand is developing a portable fixed-wing drone designed to give emergency responders access to long-range aerial intelligence without the logistical challenges of larger aircraft. The company’s XRAI Smart Plane folds into a backpack-sized case but can quickly deploy into a fixed-wing drone capable of covering large areas. WingXpand says the XRAI is made for disaster response, search and rescue, wildfire assessment, and other situations where responders need rapid situational awareness over a wide area.
LEARN MORE
A Drone Show Wedding Celebration
Our flight instructor Ken Bouvier recently got married. To celebrate, he and his new wife Tonya capped off the event with a custom drone light show (shown above). The drone light show was performed by Droneshow.com, and featured animations inspired by their life together. Ken said the day was “amazing and unforgettable” and gave special thanks to the Droneshow.com team for putting on what he described as a perfect show. In addition to being a UAV Coach instructor, runs The SkyButler, a drone services business in St. George, Utah.
Congratulations Ken and Tonya!
LEARN MORE
Take the 2026 Drone Industry Insights Survey
Drone Industry Insights (DII) has launched its annual drone industry survey, giving pilots, service providers, manufacturers, software companies, and other stakeholders a chance to share their perspectives on the state of the drone market. The survey has become one of the industry’s most widely cited research efforts, helping shape DII’s annual reports on market trends, adoption, investment, and growth. If you’re getting this newsletter, you’d be a great fit for taking this survey.
Survey respondents are thanked by DII with:
- The chance to win one of 5 x $100 Amazon gift cards
- Exclusive pre-publication access to the “State of Drones 2026” Whitepaper
- Early access to “ASTRA Intelligence”, DII’s new intelligence platform, publicly listing every drone company and their products
TAKE THE SURVEY
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.
