Your Power Bank Could Do This: IndiGo Flight Evacuated at Chandigarh Airport
An IndiGo flight from Hyderabad to Chandigarh was evacuated after a passenger’s power bank caught fire, filling the cabin with smoke. Nearly 200 passengers and crew members were safely evacuated.
North Desk Bureau
Chandigarh, May 5
An IndiGo flight arriving from Hyderabad was evacuated at Chandigarh airport on Tuesday afternoon after a passenger’s power bank reportedly caught fire, leading to smoke inside the aircraft cabin.
The incident involved IndiGo flight 6E 108, which had landed at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali, and was stationed at the bay when the emergency unfolded around 3.30 pm.
According to IndiGo airline officials, smoke was detected after a passenger seated in row 39 informed cabin crew about a fire inside a bag containing a power bank. Crew members initially attempted to control the situation using onboard fire extinguishers, but smoke quickly spread through the aircraft.
As a precautionary measure, emergency evacuation procedures were immediately initiated for all passengers and crew members onboard. Airport authorities and emergency response teams were alerted soon after the incident.
IndiGo Flight: What it said
In an official statement, IndiGo said the fire involved a passenger’s personal electronic item and confirmed that all travellers had been safely moved out of the aircraft.
“In the interest of safety, an immediate evacuation was carried out, and all the relevant authorities were immediately informed. All customers have been safely moved to the terminal and are being attended to by the team to ensure their well-being,” the statement said
The aircraft was carrying 198 passengers along with six crew members. Emergency slides were deployed to evacuate passengers onto the tarmac.
Videos circulating on social media showed passengers exiting the aircraft amid visible smoke inside the cabin.
Preliminary reports suggest that a few passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process. One woman passenger reportedly suffered an ankle injury while using the emergency slide and was taken for medical attention along with a few others.
The aircraft has been grounded for technical inspection before being cleared for further operations.
Power bank rules
The incident comes amid tighter aviation safety regulations surrounding lithium battery-powered devices. Under revised Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines issued earlier this year, passengers are prohibited from using power banks during flights to charge devices. The rules also state that spare batteries and power banks must remain in carry-on baggage and should not be placed in overhead compartments due to fire risks.
Authorities are expected to review the incident in detail to determine the exact cause of the onboard fire.
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