February 25, 2026 — A recent incident report details how a SkyViper Aura drone, marketed for children, repeatedly entangled the hair of a six-year-old girl during supervised use, leading to physical harm and emotional distress. The incidents, occurring twice on the same day, highlight a potential design flaw concerning rotor protection and child safety.
Product Details
Product: SkyViper Aura 18725
Incident Overview
On December 26, 2025, a six-year-old girl received a SkyViper Aura drone as a Christmas gift. The product is marketed for children and, according to the incident report, only included a choking hazard warning for children under three, with no warnings related to hair entanglement.
During supervised, age-appropriate use on the same day, the drone’s rotors became entangled in the front of the girl’s hair. Efforts to free her hair without causing further harm were unsuccessful, necessitating the disassembly of the drone and the cutting of a portion of her hair to release the device. Later the same day, during another supervised flight, an identical incident occurred, again requiring additional hair to be cut to free the drone.
The parent noted that the drone had only been flown a handful of times, was charged using the original cord, and was not misused. The repeated nature of the incident on the same day strongly suggests a foreseeable design or safety issue rather than a random occurrence. The incident caused not only physical harm in the form of hair loss but also significant emotional distress to the child. As a result, the family has ceased allowing their child to use the product.
Safety Concerns
This incident raises several significant safety concerns, particularly for products marketed toward children:
- Immediate Dangers: The primary immediate danger is severe hair entanglement. This can lead to painful pulling, tearing of hair, scalp irritation, or even more serious scalp injuries if the rotors continue to operate. The distress of having an object tangled in one’s hair, especially for a child, can be substantial, and the need for immediate intervention like cutting hair can be traumatic.
- Long-Term Risks: Repeated or severe hair entanglement can result in long-term hair damage, including localized hair loss (traction alopecia) or damage to hair follicles. The emotional and psychological impact on a child who experiences such an event, including fear of the product or body image issues due to hair loss, can be lasting.
- Who Might Be Affected: Children, particularly those with longer hair, are most at risk as they are the primary target demographic for toy drones like the SkyViper Aura. Parents and guardians supervising play are also indirectly affected by the stress and responsibility of mitigating such incidents.
- Property Damage Potential: While the incident report did not detail damage to property other than hair (which is categorized as physical harm), drones inherently carry a potential risk of damaging household items, furniture, or other personal property during operation due to collisions or uncontrolled flight.
The reported absence of clear warnings regarding hair entanglement, especially for a product intended for children, also represents a critical safety oversight, as consumers depend on comprehensive safety information to prevent foreseeable hazards.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own or are considering purchasing the SkyViper Aura drone or similar products should take the following actions:
- Immediate Steps in Case of Entanglement: If hair entanglement occurs, immediately power off the drone if possible. Do NOT attempt to forcefully pull the drone free, as this can exacerbate injuries. Seek professional assistance if the drone cannot be safely removed or if there are any injuries to the scalp.
- Check Your Product: Verify if you own a SkyViper Aura drone, specifically model 18725, manufactured by Skyrocket Toys LLC, and purchased from retailers such as Target.
- Prevention Measures:
- Always ensure children’s hair is securely tied back and tucked away, preferably under a hat or bandana, when operating drones.
- Maintain a safe and adequate distance between the drone and any person, especially children, pets, and loose clothing.
- Strictly supervise children during all drone operations, regardless of the child’s age or perceived maturity.
- Carefully read and adhere to all manufacturer warnings and instructions, and consider potential hazards not explicitly listed.
- Report Incidents: If you or someone you know has experienced a similar incident with this product or any other consumer product, it is crucial to report it to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov. Your report helps identify dangerous products and can lead to safety improvements or recalls.
Manufacturer’s Response
The incident report indicates that Skyrocket Toys LLC has provided a response to this specific incident. However, the details of their response were not included in the publicly available incident report.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process. Farzan Law is a California based Personal Injury law firm focusing on protecting the rights of those wrongfully injured.
Licensed to practice law ONLY in California.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.