Key Points

A drone show at the Filmfare Awards in Ahmedabad took a dangerous turn when one malfunctioned and crashed into the audience. This incident closely mirrors a recent drone disaster during China's National Day celebrations. Both events have sparked important conversations about safety regulations for large-scale drone performances. Despite the scare, the awards show continued with Alia Bhatt and Abhishek Bachchan among the winners.

Key Points: Filmfare Awards Drone Malfunction Mirrors China Incident

  • A drone malfunctioned and fell on the audience at the 70th Filmfare Awards in Ahmedabad
  • The incident caused minor injuries to a female attendee and created audience panic
  • This mirrors a recent drone show disaster in Liuyang, China where hundreds failed
  • The events raise concerns about public safety regulations for mass drone performances
2 min read

Drone malfunctions at awards show, mirroring recent drone disaster in China

A drone crashes at Filmfare Awards in Ahmedabad, injuring attendee, echoing recent China drone disaster during National Day celebrations.

"The incident has now sparked a conversation about regulations, technological safeguards, and the management of public safety during large-scale drone performances. - Article"

Mumbai, Oct 12

The recent edition of the Filmfare Awards held in Ahmedabad started off on a troubling note as a drone show went awry. The opening segment of the 70th Filmfare Awards saw a drone show paying tribute to some of the biggest stars of Hindi cinema, and showing off the statuette.

However, as the drone show wrapped up, one of the drones malfunctioned and fell over the audience section injuring a female attendee. The injury, though minor, created a panic in the audience for a good 10-15 minutes. However, things went back to normal quickly as the rest of the show was carried forward seamlessly.

The drone malfunction mirrors the recent drone show disaster in China. On October 2, 2025, a drone and fireworks show in Liuyang, Hunan Province, China, malfunctioned during National Day celebrations. The event, titled “October: The Sound of Blooming Flowers”, aimed to create a 3D visual spectacle over land and river.

However, hundreds of synchronized drones spiraled out of control shortly after takeoff, some catching fire and triggering blazes on the ground. Spectators were seen fleeing and shielding themselves from falling debris. Remarkably, authorities reported no injuries, and fires were quickly extinguished. The incident echoed a similar mishap the previous year in Quanzhou, where over 2,000 drones failed during a cultural show. The malfunction sparked mass panic, but authorities confirmed no injuries were reported. The incident has now sparked a conversation about regulations, technological safeguards, and the management of public safety during large-scale drone performances.

With the 5th industrial revolution already in force courtesy artificial intelligence, the nature of mishaps in the fast-paced and hi-tech world is changing, posing risks for mass gatherings.

As for Filmfare Awards, Abhishek Bachchan and Kartik Aaryan shared the honour for Best Actor, and Alia Bhatt was feted with the honour of Best Actress for her role in ‘Jigra’.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Rohit P
While the drone malfunction is unfortunate, I appreciate that the organizers handled it well and continued the show. The Filmfare Awards are a prestigious event and it's good they didn't let this incident ruin the entire evening. Congratulations to all the winners! 🎬
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David E
As someone working in event management, I think we're relying too much on technology without proper backup systems. Both in India and China, these incidents show we need better fail-safes. Public safety should never be compromised for visual spectacle.
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Ananya R
So proud of Alia Bhatt winning Best Actress! Jigra was such a powerful film. About the drone incident - maybe we should stick to traditional performances that don't pose safety risks to audiences. Sometimes old school is better! 💫
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Sarah B
Respectfully, I think the organizers should have paused the show longer to ensure everyone's safety. Continuing immediately after such an incident might not have been the best decision, even if the injury was minor. Safety first always!
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Vikram M
This is exactly why we need Make in India drones with better quality control. Relying on foreign technology without proper testing in Indian conditions is risky. Hope the injured person recovers quickly and the authorities take necessary action. 🇮🇳

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