Methods, systems and apparatus for the deploying of buoyancy and impact reduction measures during operation of a UAV in the event of a failure, malfunction or collision. One or more airbags or bladders may be inflated to reduce the force transferred to the UAV as a result of a crash or collision. The bladders may both be used in the impact reduction as well as being used as a floatation device in the event a water landing/crash. The airbags may be configured to keep the UAV afloat so as to allow for the recovery of the UAV.