Early on 24/1, a farmer used an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to transport a herd of pigs from the mountains to a slaughterhouse at the foot of the mountain. The farmer's village, a mountainous area in Thiet Phat town, Thong Giang district, Tu Xuyen province, lacks convenient roads for transporting pigs by oto.
A UAV carrying a pig became stuck in power lines in a village in Thiet Phat town, Tu Xuyen province, on 24/1. Video: *Sina*
However, as the UAV lifted the first pig, its cable snagged on high-voltage power lines, leaving the pig suspended in mid-air. The farmer attributed the incident to poor visibility and darkness.
The Thiet Phat Power Station reported that the village experienced a power outage lasting 10 hours. "We dispatched 12 workers to repair the lines. The cost amounted to 10,000 yuan (1,400 USD)," the power station stated.
Electricity was restored to the village by 5 PM that same day. An initial investigation suggests the farmer may have violated regulations by operating a UAV in a restricted airspace. The UAV was also found to be overloaded.
"We are collecting evidence. If it is determined that he violated the law, he will face administrative penalties and be required to compensate for the repair costs," a police officer from Thiet Phat town said.
This unusual incident garnered significant attention on Chinese social media. "When they bring the pig down, will it be ready to eat, having been electrocuted and cooked?" one person joked.
"This pig became famous before its death, embodying the spirit of a 'flying pig'," another user commented.
UAVs for agricultural use are widely employed in rural China, particularly in mountainous regions. In 2024, Tu Xuyen recorded over 40 cases of unauthorized UAV use, resulting in injuries to people or damage to property and power lines.
In October 2025, a farmer in Ho Bac province, central China, lost a thumb after being struck by a UAV. A court ruling ordered the UAV owner to pay 140,000 yuan (20,000 USD) in compensation to the injured farmer.
By Hong Hanh (Source: *SCMP*)
