Power Bank Fire Forces IndiGo Delhi-Chennai Flight to Divert to Hyderabad

An IndiGo commercial flight operating from New Delhi to Chennai was forced to make an emergency diversion to Hyderabad after a passenger's power bank ignited mid-air. Flight 6E 6115 landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, with all passengers and crew members reported safe following prompt onboard containment measures.

Cabin crew members deployed fire extinguishers to douse the flames after smoke was detected originating from a personal electronic device stored in the overhead luggage compartment. Mobile phone footage captured by passengers showed individuals attempting to suppress the initial flare-up using bags before the flight crew brought the situation under control.

Airline Baggage Policies and Safety Regulations

Following the incident, aviation authorities and airline guidelines reiterated strict protocols regarding lithium-ion battery carriage. IndiGo baggage policies mandate that power banks and spare lithium batteries are strictly permitted only in hand baggage and must remain within a passenger's personal reach, such as under a seat or in a seat pocket.

Carrying power banks in overhead luggage bins or checked baggage is expressly prohibited due to increased fire detection and containment challenges. Airlines are permitted to allow a maximum of two spare lithium-ion power banks rated up to 100 watt-hours, roughly equivalent to 27,000 milliampere-hours, subject to airport security clearance.

Regulatory Framework and Thermal Runaway Risks

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation previously issued a Dangerous Goods Advisory Circular prohibiting the use of power banks to charge mobile devices during flights, including via in-seat power outlets. The regulation similarly mandates that spare batteries must never be stowed in overhead compartments.

Aviation safety experts emphasize that lithium battery fires pose severe hazards due to thermal runaway, a phenomenon where cells rapidly overheat and ignite. Industry stakeholders have previously urged airlines to bolster crew training and passenger awareness regarding proper battery handling rather than enforcing outright bans.

Passenger Accommodations and Investigation

IndiGo arranged an alternate aircraft at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to transport stranded passengers onward to Chennai. The airline expressed regret for travel disruptions while confirming that official authorities have launched an formal investigation into the mid-air fire incident.

What travellers should take from the incident

The central lesson is accessibility in an emergency: a burning battery is much easier for crew to identify and isolate when it is within reach than when buried in luggage above passengers. A power bank's capacity in watt-hours is calculated from its battery voltage and ampere-hour rating; a printed milliampere-hour figure by itself does not establish compliance without knowing voltage. Travellers should follow the airline's current carriage rules and crew directions rather than assume every carrier applies the same limits. If a battery becomes unusually hot, swells, emits smoke or smells abnormal, passengers should alert cabin crew immediately rather than attempt to open, cool or move it independently. An emergency diversion does not, by itself, establish whether the passenger violated a carriage rule; the investigation must establish where the device was stored and how it failed.