Durban – A drone has gone missing in KwaZulu-Natal after its owner activated its return-to-home function, but the device reportedly flew back to a previous location instead of returning to its launch point.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) said the DJI Neo 2 drone disappeared while its owner was flying it in Brindhaven on Sunday, 23 August 2026.
“The owner activated the Return to Home function. However, the drone returned to a previous location from which it had been operated,” RUSA said in a statement.
The owner believes the drone may have landed near Riverview Road in Ottawa, KZN, after the flight.
According to RUSA, the owner travelled to the drone’s last recorded GPS coordinates but was unable to find the device.
“The owner believes that the drone landed near Riverview Road in Ottawa – KZN. He proceeded to its last recorded GPS coordinates but was unable to locate it,” the emergency response unit said.
It remains unclear what happened to the drone after it reached the area.
RUSA said it could not establish whether the drone landed on private property and was subsequently removed.
“It could not be confirmed whether the drone landed inside a private property and was subsequently removed,” the statement said.
The owner has appealed to members of the public for information that could help locate the missing drone.
RUSA urged anyone who may have information about the device to contact the emergency response unit.
“Anyone with information regarding the missing drone is requested to contact Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) on 086 123 4333,” it said.
RUSA also appealed to the public to share the notice in an effort to assist in recovering the drone.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
