VR Gets Too Real As Flight Simulator Sets Frankfurt Airport On Fire

A virtual-reality flight simulator owned by Concord airlines accidentally burst into flames at Frankfurt Airport, hospitalizing at least one person as a result. The fire was contained and extinguished within 45 minutes of its initial reporting.

Why this news is absurd is because a flight simulator is a large car-shaped unit which sits on a movable hydraulic platform which can twist and turn to help train pilots on how to fly a plane, simulating the mechanical and weather conditions, etc., all while the pilot and the simulator is parked firmly on the ground. It¡¯s supposed to be a sedate, harmless, almost boring piece of equipment (for an outside observer) -- except for the trainee pilot inside, for whom the experience isn¡¯t unlike playing a video game involving flying planes. Have you ever heard of a gamer playing Microsoft Flight Simulator X setting their house on fire? Precisely our point.

Courtesy: Deutsche Welle

The cause of the Concord VR flight simulator fire inside Frankfurt Airport is believed to have been caused by a ¡°technical error¡±, according to authorities investigating the case.

The fire started by the Concord flight simulator is estimated to have caused a damage of US $16.7 million or approximately Rs 114 crore. Ouch! That¡¯s one expensive VR malfunction, eh?