Recovering from severe injuries sustained in a collision with an agricultural drone, Tran Van Han, 49, from U Minh district, Ca Mau province, is still shaken as he recalls the accident that occurred over two weeks ago.

"I couldn't react before the drone's rotor blade hit my head and neck. I fell to the ground, unconscious," he said.

Han suffered a broken nose and jaw, and risks losing sight in one eye. The accident happened when the drone selected a landing spot on the road. Han assumed the drone would yield, but it suddenly descended, striking him.

An agricultural drone over a field in Can Tho city, choosing a landing spot on the road. Photo: An Minh

An agricultural drone over a field in Can Tho city, choosing a landing spot on the road. Photo: An Minh

This incident is not the first drone-related accident in the Mekong Delta. Over 6 months ago, a similar collision in Hon Dat district, Kien Giang province, resulted in the death of Bui Van Tung. Around the same time, another drone in Tan Thanh district, Long An province, became entangled in a 110 kV power line, disrupting electricity for tens of thousands of households.

Agricultural drones have been used in Vietnam for over 10 years and have rapidly increased in popularity in recent years. Long An, Dong Thap, and An Giang – three provinces with large rice-growing areas in the Mekong Delta – have over 1,800 drones, with Long An leading with over 1,300.

Common models have a capacity of 20-75 liters and weigh up to 100 kg when fully loaded with pesticides. The carbon nylon fiber rotor blades, with a span of up to 1.3 m, are the most dangerous part. Some drones have collision sensors, but these can be disabled if the battery fails, the connection is lost, or the operator deactivates them to shorten flight time.

"When there's a malfunction, the drone automatically returns to its starting point; the operator can't intervene," said a drone owner.

Furthermore, most drones currently operate illegally. Regulations require all aircraft to be licensed by the Ministry of National Defense and have flight agreements with local authorities, but many owners admit they have "never applied for a permit."

Drones are increasingly common not only over rice fields but also other crops. Photo: An Minh

Drones are increasingly common not only over rice fields but also other crops. Photo: An Minh

In 2020, the Ministry of National Defense issued a document facilitating agricultural drone operation, extending the flight permit duration to a maximum of 180 days. However, implementation reveals ongoing monitoring challenges.

Dr. Ho Van Chien, former director of the Southern Plant Protection Center, acknowledges the role of drones given the rural labor shortage. However, he also expresses concern because 80-90% of rice fields use drones, but most operators are untrained, creating safety risks and reducing spraying effectiveness.

Chien recounts incidents where drones flying into strong winds caused pesticide drift onto durian orchards, scorching the leaves. In other cases, low-flying drones flattened entire rice paddies in bloom, as if a small storm had passed.

"Granular, powder, and liquid pesticides designed for traditional sprayers are used indiscriminately with drones without guidance. No one knows the correct flight altitude or wind conditions," he said.

Therefore, the agricultural expert recommends that the Plant Protection Department create a specific list of pesticides for drone use, establish testing regulations, and issue detailed technical standards. Without clear guidelines, there could be serious environmental and crop damage.

An agricultural drone spraying in Cao Lanh district, Dong Thap province. Photo: Ngoc Tai

An agricultural drone spraying in Cao Lanh district, Dong Thap province. Photo: Ngoc Tai

Drone operation should be considered a skilled profession requiring training. Operators must undergo safety training, understand aviation regulations, and use pesticides correctly. "There should be penalties for accidents, illegal flights, or improper operation causing damage – similar to revoking a driver's license," Chien said.

Along with the flight permit issued by the Ministry of National Defense, regulations stipulate that drone operators must be at least 18 years old, have full civil capacity, and possess basic aviation knowledge. Recently, the Ministry of National Defense published an online map of no-fly and restricted zones for UAVs and drones. This list includes airports, defense areas, and key security zones.

Ngoc Tai - Hoang Nam - An Minh