Drone Show Disaster in China: Drones Catch Fire Mid-Air, Sparking Panic Among Spectators

A technical malfunction during a drone display caused widespread panic among spectators, though fortunately no injuries were reported by local authorities.

An elaborate drone and fireworks exhibition in Liuyang city, China, turned chaotic when numerous drones experienced mid-air malfunctions, resulting in a fire that sent audience members rushing to safety. The incident occurred on October 2 during the "October: The Sound of Blooming Flowers" performance at the Sky Theatre, an event designed to create spectacular 3D visual effects over both land and water. Unfortunately, technical difficulties caused multiple drones to plummet from the sky, burst into flames, and create panic throughout the gathered crowd.

Social media footage revealed attendees using chairs as improvised shields to protect themselves from descending sparks, while others fled as burning debris fell from above. Official statements confirmed that despite the alarming situation, no one suffered injuries during the incident.

Drone Light Show in China Ends in Chaos:A drone and #fireworks display in Liuyang, China, turned #disastrous as hundreds of #drones malfunctioned and fell from the sky, some in flames. Sparks hit the crowd and started a small forest fire. Officials say no one was injured!… pic.twitter.com/Gda8MbGmyq

— Amitav Bhattacharjee (@bamitav) October 5, 2025

Drone fireworks show fails in China 😳Sparks falls on spectators, no injuries reportedpic.twitter.com/Mx4wDwAvsd

— Frontalforce 🇮🇳 (@FrontalForce) October 4, 2025

🤯 In China, hundreds of drones fell and exploded right into the crowd — they were launched as part of a light show in the city of Liuyang, but something went wrong and the UAVs got out of control. A fire broke out there. pic.twitter.com/grRzlg3W1S

— Гакрукс (@Gakruks1) October 4, 2025

Drone show mishap: technical issues cause drones to crash mid-performance. pic.twitter.com/bomPXI54QW

— Moments that Matter (@_fluxfeeds) October 3, 2025

Emergency responders acted swiftly, establishing a one-mile evacuation perimeter and deploying additional firefighting units as a precautionary measure.

The event has prompted discussions regarding safety protocols for large-scale pyrotechnic displays. Representatives from the Liuyang Bureau of Culture and Tourism indicated that dry weather conditions may have been a contributing factor to the incident, according to Gulf News.

Liuyang is renowned for its spectacular pyrotechnic shows, drawing massive crowds throughout the year. Earlier in January, more than 160,000 visitors came to the city to participate in New Year's celebrations.