Au revoir, Aero India: Bengaluru bids goodbye to its biennial aero show
Bengaluru (PTI): As soon as they entered, as if on cue, the crowd made a beeline to the stands from where they could get a better view of the aerial stunts on the final day of Aero India 2025 on Friday.
Their efforts were paid off: the pilots put on a breathtaking show. They rolled the aircraft, zigged and zagged them, flipped them over, and hovered vertically in them before dropping them down full speed, cutting through the sky like a bomb, only to flip them up back again. The daredevilry drew a collective gasp from the crowd.
The penultimate show at 10.30 am displayed the might of 10 aircraft, including the popular Russian aircraft Su-57 and the American F-16, Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL)’s LUH, HTT-40, LCA Mk-1A and IJT, Indian Air Force (IAF)’S Su-30 MKI and nine HAWKs manoeuvred by the famous The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL)’s Hansa and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)’s FTB.
In final aerial display, scheduled for 2.30 pm on Friday, which would also showcase 10 aircraft, American F-16 would be replaced with another American aircraft, KC-135.
Meanwhile, the exhibitors, thanks to the fifth-day fatigue and the pressing crowd, were seen putting their things together already, waiting to leave as soon as they can.
But mostly, the exhibitors were a happy lot.
Siddhant Singh Chauhan, Senior Manager, Business Communications of Boeing said he was thrilled because Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had stopped by Boeing stall on the inaugural day.
Chauhan said he also was happy with the response that the Boeing’s AI-driven presentation got. In what looked like a scene from sci-fi movie, people learnt about Boeing’s product portfolio in a sensor-activated transparent screen with the flick of their hands.
Vasilii Fainveits, CEO, CTO & Founder of Latvia-based Fixar, a software and aircraft design developing firm, said he found a perfect partner in Hyderabad-based Aksi Aerospace Group.
With their help, said Fainveits, he would be able to scale up the production of his 'luxury' drone Fixar 007, a fully autonomous, vertical take off and landing drone, giving them the advantage of pricing it cost effectively.
"We are also planning to name the drone Shiv, as a nod to one of my good friends who passed away recently and who happened to be Indian,” said Fainvveits to PTI.
Arjun Naik, Founder and CEO of Scandron, a Bengaluru-based logistics and surveillance drone manufacturer, who launched his 200-kg capacity logistic drone during Aero India 2025, felt the heat most as his drones were displayed right by the hangar, where the roar of the aircraft was almost a constant background noise.
“You get used to it, believe me,” Naik insisted to PTI, even as visitors to his stall instinctively closed their ears whenever flights roared past them.
Stalls displaying crowd-favourite things — like military outfits and SKAT souvenirs — were filled to the brim even on the last day. Especially SKAT souvenir stall, as has been the case on all days, saw a swell in the crowd every time the famous aerial acrobats put up a show.
While the first three days were meant for industry visitors, Thursday and Friday were open to the public. Despite the crowd the final began efficiently, and the security was oiled enough to make sure that the crowd were kept moving to prevent pile-ups at any point.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Bengaluru traffic. Despite a horde of traffic cops braving the pollution and heat, vehicles piled up. 'X' handle of Bengaluru Post, a hyper-local podcast spotlighting Bengaluru, reported with video that the spillover from Airport Road traffic choked the inner roads in Kodigehalli, Amruthahhalli and Jakkur.
More than 500 delegates from 84 countries, including foreign guests, Defence Ministers and service chiefs have participated in Aero India 2025, the biennial show that has emerged as Asia’s largest.
This year saw 931 exhibitors, including 782 Indians. This also included 58 Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and 115 global CEOs.
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Mumbai family deaths: Rat poison ingredient zinc phosphide found in viscera, watermelon sample
Mumbai (PTI): Four members of a family in Pydhonie area of south Mumbai died last month due to rat poison, police officials said on Thursday.
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report has confirmed the presence of zinc phosphide in viscera (liver, kidney, spleen), stomach contents, bile, and abdominal fat samples of the deceased identified as Abdulla Dokadia (44), his wife Nasrin (35) and their daughters Aayesha (16) and Zaineb (13), said Deputy Commissioner of Police Pravin Mundhe.
"The watermelon sample also tested positive for zinc phosphide, while all other food items were negative. The report will be studied in depth. We will consult forensic doctors. Further probe in the case is underway," the DCP said.
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Zinc phosphide is used primarily as a highly toxic acute rodenticide to control rats and mice.
"The forensic experts who examined the viscera of deceased Abdulla Dokadia, Nasrin (35), Aayesha (16) and Zaineb (13) found traces of zinc phosphide. It is, however, unclear whether the rat poison was consumed accidentally (or on purpose). So far, we have found no strong reason why the whole family would take such an extreme step," another official said.
Further probe is being conducted by the JJ Marg police station, which has recorded statements of kin and neighbours, he added.
The Dokadia family, residents of Ghari Mohalla on Ismail Kurte Road, had hosted a get-together of relatives on the night of April 25. At around 1 am, hours after the guests had left, Abdullah Dokadia, his wife Nasreen, and daughters Ayesha and Zaineb ate pieces of a watermelon.
They suffered severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea in the early hours of April 26 and were rushed to a local hospital before being referred to the government-run J J Hospital where all four died during treatment.
