Systems and methods for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) network switchover and emergency procedures, implemented by a UAV includes communicating to an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system via a primary wireless network; receiving and storing emergency instructions from the ATC system; detecting communication disruption on the primary wireless network to the ATC system; responsive to the detecting, switching to a backup wireless network to reestablish communication to the ATC system; and, responsive to failing to reestablish communication to the ATC system via the backup wireless network, implementing the emergency instructions.