An incredible first-person video showing a DJI drone crashing and burning into an erupting volcano has been making waves online.
A filmmaker was flying the brand new DJI FPV (first-person view) drone around Iceland's newest volcano, Fagradalsfjall in the Geldingadalir valley, to get epic shots of the erupting lava. However, while it may be the best FPV drone around, the DJI was simply no match for the volcano – which swallowed the poor camera whole, as you can see in the video below.
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"The ongoing eruption of the Icelandic volcano Fagradalsfjall in the Geldingadalir valley was one of the most magnificent sights I have ever witnessed in my life," said Joey Helms on his YouTube channel.
"FPV drones are notorious for crashing, it is part of the hobby. So in an effort to get a unique vantage point and perspective into the crater we flew this remarkably capable drone as close to the lava river and caldera as possible. One of it turned out to be it's [sic] very last flight. At least the goggles record a great 1080p image allowing us to actually capture the last seconds the drone saw."
Unlike normal drones, FPV drones transmit their video feed directly to wearable goggles. Not only did this save Helms having to take a hot bath into lava to retrieve his footage, it also gave him the unique viewpoint of being engulfed by a volcanic eruption.
"Imagine how I felt seeing it through the FPV goggles in that moment. Let's say it felt extremely real."
His channel features another, non-crashing video that showcases the beauty of the erupting Fagradalsfjall, which is well worth checking out. And Helms has even teased a video about how not to crash a drone into an active volcano.
"In my next video I will be taking you on the ground and talk about what it's like to fly drones around a volcano and what you must look out for so you don't crash…"
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