An incident involving an exploding power bank led to an emergency evacuation on IndiGo flight 6E108 from Hyderabad to Chandigarh. The aircraft involved, an Airbus A321neo registered VT-ICO, was already taxiing to the terminal after landing at the time of the incident.
According to eyewitness accounts, a device in a passenger's hand luggage suddenly caught fire and exploded, quickly filling the cabin with thick smoke and causing panic among the 198 occupants. The cabin crew reacted immediately, extinguishing the flames with onboard equipment and initiating the evacuation via the emergency slides, which was completed within minutes.
Five people were injured in the incident and required medical attention after leaving the aircraft. The airline, IndiGo, confirmed that the plane has been temporarily grounded for a comprehensive technical inspection to rule out any potential damage to the cabin structure or electrical systems. Additional security personnel and fire crews from Chandigarh Airport arrived quickly but were not needed, as the crew had already brought the fire under control. Indian authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the specific type of equipment to determine the cause of the lithium battery's thermal runaway.
This incident occurred against the backdrop of stricter safety regulations imposed by the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Since January 2026, national guidelines in India have explicitly prohibited the use of power banks during flights, as the risk of fires caused by defective or substandard lithium-ion batteries is considered critical. Similar incidents have occurred repeatedly worldwide in the past, prompting many international regulatory bodies to require that such devices be carried exclusively in hand luggage to allow for rapid access by the crew in the event of a fire.
The technical analysis is now focusing on whether the power bank was charging at the time of the explosion or damaged by external factors. Aviation safety experts point out that storing batteries in confined overhead compartments can lead to short circuits under mechanical stress. The incident in Chandigarh underscores the operational challenge for airlines of consistently monitoring compliance with onboard usage bans. For IndiGo, the incident means not only the temporary grounding of a modern aircraft but also increased passenger awareness of the dangers posed by small electronic devices in the cabin.