IndiGo flight evacuated as power bank catches fire

An IndiGo flight was evacuated upon landing in Chandigarh today after a power bank belonging to a passenger caught fire. Two fire extinguishers were used to douse the blaze.

The plane was still on the runway, and the passengers were waiting to disembark when the smoke was detected, sources said.

IndiGo confirmed the incident and said that a passenger's personal electronic equipment had caught fire after flight 6E 108 flew in from Hyderabad and landed in the city.

The passengers were safely evacuated and moved to the terminal, a spokesperson said.

"On 5 May 2026, while IndiGo flight 6E 108 from Hyderabad to Chandigarh was stationary after landing, an incident involving a customer's personal electronic equipment catching fire was reported. 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," IndiGo said.

The aircraft will undergo necessary checks before resuming operations, the airline added.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said a power bank kept in a seat pocket by a passenger on seat 39C caught fire.

"Aircraft was stopped in the bay. The cabin crew used two fire extinguisher bottles to extinguish the fire. Then all six slides were deployed to evacuate passengers. No passenger injury has been reported," the DGCA said in a statement.

Power banks can pose serious safety concerns in aircraft since they contain lithium batteries that can store a significant electrical charge. According to the DGCA, lithium battery fires can even cause personal electronic devices to explode.

Airlines, in general, don't allow power banks in checked-in luggage. IndiGo restricts passengers from carrying power banks of more than 160 Wh in their cabin luggage.

-NDTV