In response to the catastrophic mudslide that struck Gyirong County in Shigatse, Xizang, the Ministry of Emergency Management, in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, has deployed three Wing Loong drones to the disaster zone. These unmanned aerial vehicles are conducting critical missions including emergency communications relay and disaster reconnaissance.

According to reports from August 31, the fleet has surpassed a cumulative flight time of more than 130 hours as of noon that day, successfully facilitating over 3,900 phone calls for affected residents. The operation has been hampered by severe conditions unique to the high-altitude region, including freezing temperatures, turbulent canyon winds, and volatile weather patterns. To overcome these obstacles, the flight crews have implemented specialized tactics such as remote takeoff and landing procedures, long-distance transfer across vast areas, and simultaneous operation of multiple aircraft in the same airspace. These strategies have enabled rapid deployment and coordinated multi-aircraft support, establishing a vital communications lifeline for the disaster-stricken communities.

Simultaneously, the drones continue to perform aerial surveillance, providing essential data for risk assessment and command decision-making. The aerial support also responds to a directive from the Sichuan Provincial Emergency Management Department, which urgently dispatched a Wing Loong 2 large fixed-wing drone on August 26 to provide cross-regional assistance. Working in conjunction with the Sichuan Communications Administration for backend support, the aircraft initiated immediate disaster reconnaissance and emergency communication services upon reaching its designated operational airspace, furnishing ground search and rescue teams with critical aerial technical support.

Currently, the Wing Loong drones from both Sichuan and Xizang operate in a relayed flight rotation, ensuring uninterrupted surveillance of the mission airspace. This collaborative approach establishes an efficient aviation emergency relay support model, maximizing the drones' capabilities to maintain continuous coverage and communication services for the affected regions.