At least five passengers sustained injuries after a power bank exploded on board an IndiGo flight arriving from Hyderabad to Chandigarh on Tuesday. The incident occurred on flight 6E 108 shortly after it had landed and was taxiing towards the parking bay at the Chandigarh airport.
The explosion led to a smoke-filled cabin, triggering panic among the 198 passengers on board.
According to airline sources, the aircraft, carrying 198 passengers, two infants, and six crew members, landed safely at approximately 3:29 PM. As the plane proceeded toward bay number one, a passenger seated at 39C alerted the cabin crew that a power bank kept in a bag had caught fire and subsequently exploded.
The crew acted swiftly, using fire extinguishers to douse the flames, but the deployment of emergency protocols became necessary due to the dense smoke accumulating inside the aircraft.
Following the emergency procedures, crew members opened the emergency exits at 3:35 PM, and passengers were evacuated via air slides. An Air Force fire tender team reached the spot within minutes, though the situation had already been brought under control by the airline staff.
Affected passengers were provided immediate medical attention, with visuals from the site showing at least one woman being transported in an ambulance.
IndiGo issued a statement confirming that the aircraft was evacuated as a precautionary measure and all relevant authorities were notified.
The airline emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority and noted that the aircraft would undergo a comprehensive technical inspection before returning to service.
It is pertinent to mention that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had implemented a strict ban on using power banks to charge devices during flights starting January 2026, citing the fire risks associated with lithium batteries.
While these devices are permitted only in hand baggage for immediate detection in case of overheating, DGCA guidelines strictly prohibit using them mid-flight or storing them in overhead bins where smoke or fire might go unnoticed by the crew.
A joint investigation by the police and airport authorities is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the malfunction.