Power bank catches fire mid-air; IndiGo flight diverted to Hyderabad

An IndiGo flight travelling from Delhi to Chennai was diverted to Hyderabad on Sunday after a passenger's power bank reportedly caught fire mid-air, triggering smoke inside the aircraft and prompting the pilots to make an emergency landing. Flight 6E 6115 landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad after the cabin crew brought the situation under control. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew members.

According to reports, the incident occurred when a power bank belonging to a passenger caught fire inside an overhead luggage compartment. The smoke prompted an immediate response from the cabin crew, who used firefighting equipment to extinguish the flames. The pilots subsequently decided to divert the aircraft to Hyderabad as a precautionary measure, following established aviation safety procedures.

IndiGo confirms diversion

Confirming the incident, an IndiGo spokesperson said the aircraft had been diverted after smoke was detected from a passenger's personal electronic device. "IndiGo flight 6E 6115, operating from Delhi to Chennai on October 11, 2026, was diverted to Hyderabad after smoke was detected from a customer's personal electronic device," the airline said in a statement.

The spokesperson said the pilots followed established safety protocols and landed the aircraft safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The airline also confirmed that an alternative aircraft had been arranged to transport the affected passengers to Chennai.

Fire brought under control

The incident reportedly involved an Airbus A321neo aircraft operating the domestic service between Delhi and Chennai. Reports indicated that the cabin crew responded promptly after smoke emerged from the electronic device, preventing the situation from escalating before the aircraft reached Hyderabad.

Videos circulating on social media appeared to show concern among passengers as the crew responded to the incident. However, there were no reports of injuries or damage affecting the aircraft's ability to land safely. The exact circumstances in which the power bank caught fire were not immediately clear.

Concerns over battery safety

The incident has once again highlighted the safety risks associated with lithium-ion batteries used in portable electronic devices, including power banks, smartphones and laptops.

Lithium-ion batteries can overheat because of internal faults, physical damage or short circuits. In certain circumstances, overheating can lead to thermal runaway, a process in which rising temperatures trigger a rapid release of heat and potentially cause a fire.

Under aviation safety regulations, spare lithium batteries and power banks must generally be carried in cabin baggage rather than checked luggage so that crew members can respond quickly if overheating occurs.

IndiGo's passenger safety instructions also state that power banks should remain within personal reach, should not be stored in overhead bins and must not be used or charged during a flight.

The incident is expected to be examined to establish the cause of the fire and determine whether the electronic device was being carried in accordance with applicable safety requirements.

The airline had not immediately disclosed the number of passengers on board or the extent of the delay caused by the diversion.