A few weeks ago, TGI Friday’s announced it would be flying mistletoe drones — aptly referred to as “Mobile Mistletoe” — above its patrons as part of a marketing stunt to get guests into the holiday spirit.
Drone operator David Quiones prepares the restaurant drone for flight.
The idea was met with a mixed reaction: some loved it, some rolled their eyes, and others suggested the drones could be put to better use, including the delivery of beer, buffalo wings, and more.
A decent sized group, though, questioned just how safe it was for a restaurant to be flying remote-controlled helicopters above tables filled with patrons.
And it’s this point in particular that we address in this story — you see, the company officially showed off its program at its Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY restaurant recently. While the initial launch of the two choppers, one a 10-inch quadcopter and the other a larger 23-inch drone with six rotors and no prop guards, went smoothly, on December 4, one of the two choppers accidentally struck a patron.
Drone operator David Quiones prepares the restaurant drone for flight.
From the Brooklyn Daily, which reported the story and whose photographer was the person hit:
The two remote-controlled helicopters dangling sprigs of mistletoe were intended to spread holiday romance, but one of them flew out of control and clipped Courier photographer Georgine Benvenuto in the nose with one of its spinning, uncovered blades.
“It literally chipped off a tip of my nose,” said Benvenuto, using tissues to stanch the blood. “It took off part of my nose and cut me here, right under my chin.”
Benvenuto said she’s just thankful she wasn’t blinded in the name of love.
“Thank god it didn’t go anywhere under my eye — that is my livelihood.”
A bit sensational in the description, but certainly an unfortunate event to report.
Photographer Georgine Benvenuto tends to the cuts on her nose and chin caused by the restaurant’s drone.
The restaurant responded:
Drone operator David Quiones said an accident like this had never happened before, and even blamed our reporter for the bloodshed.
Quiones had encouraged our reporter to let him land the smaller of the two aircraft on her hand, but she flinched when the 10-inch drone touched down — and he said that is what caused the four-bladed flying machine to careen into the face of our photographer nearby. But Benvenuto insisted that the responsibility lies with the man operating the controls.
So was it the reporter’s fault, or the operator? Or do you blame the restaurant chain for introducing such a dangerous indoor marketing stunt? Quiones believes patrons will be largely unmoved by this incident.
“If people get hurt, they’re going to come regardless. People get hurt in airplanes, they still fly,” Quiones said later. “There is a risk involved — anything flying, there is risk.”
As for TGI Friday’s response, the company noted that earlier launch events in Long Island and Texas went off without any accidents happening, adding they prefer guests stay away from the aircraft.
“We do not let consumers touch it,” said Frances Karkosak, a spokeswoman for TGI Friday’s.
Via BrooklynDaily
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