Power Bank Catches Fire Mid-Air on IndiGo Flight, Delhi–Chennai Plane Diverted to Hyderabad

Smoke From Passenger’s Electronic Device Forces IndiGo Flight to Divert to Hyderabad

An IndiGo flight travelling from Delhi to Chennai was diverted to Hyderabad on Sunday, October 11, after smoke was detected coming from a passenger’s personal electronic device onboard, prompting the pilots to make an unscheduled landing as a precaution.

Flight 6E 6115 landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Shamshabad, Hyderabad. According to the airline, the crew acted swiftly to manage the situation, and the smoke-related incident was brought under control before landing.

In a statement, an IndiGo spokesperson said the pilots had diverted the aircraft in accordance with established safety procedures after smoke was detected from the device. The airline, however, did not disclose the exact nature of the device or the cause of the smoke.

Initial information suggested that a passenger’s power bank might have caught fire. However, IndiGo did not confirm whether a power bank was involved.

Passengers Describe a Frightening Experience

A passenger onboard the flight described the incident as terrifying, saying it caused panic and confusion among those travelling on the aircraft. According to the passenger, people initially struggled to understand what was happening as the crew attempted to extinguish the fire using different methods.

The cabin crew eventually brought the situation under control, and the aircraft made an emergency landing in Hyderabad. The passenger said those onboard were waiting in Hyderabad and expected to continue their journey to Chennai shortly.

The experience reportedly left passengers shaken, with concerns about their safety during the incident.

IndiGo Arranges an Alternate Aircraft

Following the diversion, IndiGo arranged an alternate aircraft to transport passengers to Chennai. The airline also apologised for the disruption and said it was making efforts to reduce inconvenience by providing refreshments and keeping passengers informed about the situation.

“We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers due to this unforeseen situation and are making all efforts to minimise it, including offering refreshments and sharing timely updates,” the spokesperson said.

The airline reiterated that the safety of passengers and crew remained its highest priority.

More Information Awaited

Details about the incident, including the number of passengers onboard, the possibility of injuries and the exact cause of the smoke, were not immediately available. The timeline for the aircraft’s onward departure to Chennai was also unclear.

The diversion highlights the safety concerns associated with smoke or fire involving personal electronic devices onboard aircraft. Such incidents require a prompt response from cabin crew and may necessitate an immediate diversion to ensure the safety of everyone onboard.

IndiGo has yet to provide further details about the device involved or the circumstances that led to the incident. Updates on the investigation and the passengers’ onward journey are awaited.