Why must drone pilots avoid flying over crowds?

Flying over crowds poses significant safety risks, primarily due to the potential for injury in the event of a drone malfunction. If a drone experiences mechanical failure, loses power, or encounters an unforeseen issue, it can descend rapidly and uncontrollably. If there are people underneath, the chances of injury increase dramatically. By avoiding flying over populated areas, pilots can help ensure public safety and mitigate the risk of accidents that could result from such failures.

While it might be true that crowds can attract more attention to a drone or that drone operation is generally restricted in certain crowded areas, these factors are secondary to the core principle of safety and minimizing injury risk.