Mobile phone 'could have been used to channel hop'
Um, so pretty much doesn't that mean the drone was running on WiFi? So it was most likely simply interference, another device was trying to use the same channel has his device. Lesson 1: If you're going to operate a UAV over WiFi, check to make sure nothing else is on the channel. Lesson 2: If you're going to operate a UAV over WiFi, don't fly it where it could crash into somebody because you never know when another device is going to interfere with the channel you're using. Lesson 3: If something in the area interfered with it in the morning, don't fly it over humans without figuring out the interference.
He said a full check was conducted and the device was taken elsewhere for a test flight, but he said no issues were detected.
Which means whatever it was interfering with was in the area you were operating it in when it crashed, not the area where you tested it.
Mr Abrams said an initial investigation had indicted that someone nearby "channel hopped" the device, taking control away from the operator.
So somebody switched on their mobile hotspot and it was on the same channel as your UAV.
The videographer added that there had been a similar incident when the drone was flown earlier in the day.
Wow. Had this not happened I'd say the guy doesn't understand technical stuff (he's a photographer, not an IT guy) and that this was an unfortunate accident, but considering it happened earlier, he didn't consult with a technical person, and he still flew it over humans that's downright negligence and he should be responsible for the competitor's medical expenses, entry fee and any travel expenses. Perhaps even prosecuted for endangerment (either reckless endangerment or public endangerment, I think Australia has those laws similar to most US states).