Video of hawk attack on my Mavic 3

[Heavydpj]

So I'm in Papua New Guinea, getting some video. I decide to zip along the coast of the island just to look around. As I'm flying, I see a haw fly through my camera VERY closely. Knowing what was coming next, I flee back home at low altitude hoping to avoid the inevitable attack.

No such luck.
A few second later ... BOOM! The craft shudders, the camera points upwards a bit, and the hawk's shadow appears in the camera frame, and the camera yaws left, then right. Thankfully, damage was minimal (slight damage to a right rear prop blade leading edge).

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[Walleye Hunter]

Hint for future encounters: Climb, climb, climb, then run. They cannot climb anywhere near as well as they can dive.

 

[Tarmactripper]

as previously stated, you did the right thing in getting away, but to climb first is a must, they can't follow then dive and skidaddle. lol

 

[careless]

So I'm in Papua New Guinea, getting some video. I decide to zip along the coast of the island just to look around. As I'm flying, I see a haw fly through my camera VERY closely. Knowing what was coming next, I flee back home at low altitude hoping to avoid the inevitable attack.

No such luck.
A few second later ... BOOM! The craft shudders, the camera points upwards a bit, and the hawk's shadow appears in the camera frame, and the camera yaws left, then right. Thankfully, damage was minimal (slight damage to a right rear prop blade leading edge).

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I know the feeling

 

[peterc4]

Always fly straight up always

 

[twickers14]

I know the feeling

Is that a pigeon?

 

[Conservative Nihilist]

Affixing an ultra-bright flashing Firehouse strobe light to your drone at the rear works wonders as a bird repellent.

 

[careless]

Is that a pigeon?

Yep, flew in front of my Mavic air 2s crossing the Ohio river

 

[Cymruflyer]

I know the feeling

That is a Pidgeon, not a hawk.

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

A few second later ... BOOM! The craft shudders,

Whoa, you did get lucky there for sure.
I’ve never had more than curious hawks when encountered, this one might have had young nearby.

Edit - what part of the coast ?

Hint for future encounters: Climb, climb, climb, then run. They cannot climb anywhere near as well as they can dive.

Indeed this works great.
I escaped a Peregrine Falcon like this a few years ago, my final vision of it was with gimbal straight down as I ascended in sports mode, and the bird circling trying to climb up to me.
As fast as it could buzz me at the lower altitude it had no chance catching me ascending then turning for home.

 

[Heavydpj]

Edit - what part of the coast?

I was in the Conflict Islands.

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

I was in the Conflict Islands.

Wow, that's out there, very remote.

 

[Heavydpj]

Indeed it was! Great diving though.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Dayam... it chased you! And fast.

As someone else mentioned, it probably had a nest with babies near by. I just can't imagine why else it would follow you at that speed that far.

But then, I'm no ornithologist, so what do I know?

 

[Droning on and on...]

Indeed it was! Great diving though.

Yes!!! Love to try it, after seeing those beautiful azure reefs.