Fire on IndiGo Flight Chandigarh: Panic gripped the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport on Tuesday afternoon when a power bank belonging to a passenger suddenly caught fire aboard an IndiGo aircraft. The incident occurred on flight 6E108, which had arrived from Hyderabad and was stationary on the ground after a safe landing at approximately 3:29 PM.
According to official information released by the airline, the aircraft was proceeding towards its assigned parking bay when the incident unfolded. A passenger seated at 39C alerted the cabin crew immediately after noticing that their power bank, stored inside their bag, had ignited. Dense smoke rapidly filled the cabin, causing alarm among those on board.
Responding to the gravity of the situation, the crew immediately activated emergency protocols. Prioritising passenger safety, they swiftly initiated an evacuation using emergency exits and slides. airport security and fire services were also alerted and rushed to the spot. The crew managed to bring the situation under control before the fire could escalate.
Once evacuated onto the runway, all passengers were promptly escorted to the terminal building. IndiGo confirmed that its ground staff was fully deployed to assist the passengers and ensure they faced no further inconvenience. The airline spokesperson stated that all passengers and crew members are completely safe. As a precautionary measure, the aircraft in question has been temporarily withdrawn from operational service and will undergo a thorough technical inspection before being cleared to fly again.
The incident has once again brought DGCA safety regulations regarding electronic devices into sharp focus. Current norms strictly permit power banks only in hand luggage and prohibit their storage in overhead compartments. A detailed investigation into the causes is now underway to prevent such occurrences in the future.
