Runway scare at Bengaluru airport: Giant balloon drifts into critical zone, disaster narrowly averted

A massive balloon entered the sensitive runway area at Kempegowda International Airport, raising serious safety concerns. Police have booked a construction firm for negligence after the incident surfaced days later.

Bengaluru  witnessed a serious aviation safety scare after a massive balloon drifted into the highly restricted runway area of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), one of the country’s busiest aviation hubs. The alarming incident occurred on February 5 but came to public attention only after official verification.

According to preliminary findings, the oversized balloon floated directly into the runway, a zone meant exclusively for aircraft take-offs and landings. Fortunately, no flight movement was taking place at that exact moment. Officials said that if an aircraft had been landing or departing, the balloon could have caused a major accident, posing severe risk to passenger lives and airport infrastructure.

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Initial investigations suggest that the balloon belonged to BCD Construction, a company engaged in building activity near the airport premises. The balloon had reportedly been tied to a construction structure for promotional or identification purposes. Due to strong winds, the rope snapped, allowing the balloon to drift uncontrollably into the airport’s operational area.

The airport’s security team immediately flagged the incident and treated it as a serious breach of safety protocols. Given the potential consequences, airport authorities lodged a formal complaint against the construction firm for negligence.

Following the complaint, the Kempegowda International Airport Police Station near Devanahalli registered a case and launched a detailed probe to determine accountability. Officials are also reviewing safety measures around construction zones close to critical airport infrastructure to prevent such incidents in the future.

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Authorities have reiterated that even small lapses in high-security areas like airport runways can lead to catastrophic outcomes and must be dealt with strictly.