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A flight carrying more than 180 passengers had to make an emergency landing after a passenger’s power bank caught fire inside an overhead luggage compartment.
The IndiGo flight 6E 6115 from Delhi to Chennai was diverted to Hyderabad, where it landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport after the power bank incident on Sunday. No injuries were reported.
The fire broke out on the Airbus A321 that departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi at 1.30pm local time on 11 October. It was scheduled to arrive in Chennai at 4pm but instead landed in Hyderabad at 3.59pm, according to flight-tracking platform FlightAware.
Smoke was seen emerging from the overhead storage bin, with videos shared online showing flames inside the compartment.
Some passengers attempted to contain the fire using bags and pieces of cloth as cabin crew members responded with firefighting equipment.
One passenger was heard urging others to remain calm.
The crew managed to bring the situation under control, and the pilots diverted the aircraft as a precaution, local reports said.
The Independent has reached out to IndiGo for comment.
In a statement shared with the local media, IndiGo said: “IndiGo flight 6E 6115, operating from Delhi to Chennai on October 11 was diverted to Hyderabad after smoke was detected from a customer’s personal electronic device. The cabin crew responded promptly and the situation was brought under control. In line with established protocols, the pilots diverted the flight and landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad. An alternate aircraft has been arranged to continue the journey to Chennai.”
“We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers due to this unforeseen situation and are making all efforts to minimise it, including offering refreshments and sharing timely updates.”
The incident has renewed concerns about the risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in power banks, smartphones and laptops. Power banks are not permitted in checked-in baggage and must be carried in the cabin, subject to airline and aviation regulations.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory last year asking airlines to prohibit the use of power banks to charge portable electronic devices on board.
On 5 May this year, a power bank caught fire aboard IndiGo flight 6E 108 after the aircraft arrived in Chandigarh from Hyderabad. Smoke and flames spread through the cabin, prompting an emergency evacuation. Six people were reported injured and taken to a hospital.
Another incident occurred on 19 October last year, when a passenger’s power bank caught fire aboard IndiGo flight 6E 2107 from Delhi to Dimapur as the aircraft was taxiing for take-off at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
At the time, IndiGo said that the plane “returned to bay due to a minor fire triggered by a passenger’s personal electronic equipment stored in the seat-back pocket on board”.
