Around 300 cars were gutted in a massive fire that broke out at the venue for Aero India 2019 in Bengaluru’s Yelahanka on Saturday, 23 February. The fire was extinguished by the fire brigade after much effort, the blaze that spread across the parking lot was extinguished. After a brief halt, flying operations too resumed and the air display continued as planned. There have been no injuries reported in the incident. The spot where the fire had broken out is just a few kilometres from the location where the air show was being held. The blaze started just moments after badminton star, PV Sindhu, took off in an LCA Fighter. This incident came just days after Wing Commander Sahil Gandhi, was killed in a mishap involving two aircraft of the Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team. Moreover, Prolonged uncertainty over the proposed venue for Aero India 2019, Bengaluru imposing customs duty on aircraft and equipment to be imported by exhibitors for display, the dampened market for aerospace industry products, the huge political controversy surrounding the acquisition of 36 Rafale jet fighters and the government’s single-minded push on ‘Make in India’ for Defence sector are some of the major factors contributing to a lukewarm Aero India event 2019.
