NEW DELHI: IndiGo on Tuesday carried out a safe immediate evacuation of passengers using emergency slides of its Hyderabad-Chandigarh flight after a personal electronic device (PED) caught fire. Smoke from a bag was detected when the aircraft had come to a halt after landing, and passengers were yet to disembark.
Incident Details
On May 5, 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 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, an IndiGo spokesperson said. The aircraft will undergo necessary checks before resuming operations. At IndiGo, the safety of our customers and crew remains our top priority, the spokesperson added.
Growing Concerns Over Power Banks and PEDs
In recent months, several countries including India have started restricting power bank usage on aircraft due to the possibility of them catching fire. Apart from limiting the number of power banks and their battery capacity, they can neither be used to charge a PED nor be charged via the in-seat power source on aircraft. Additionally, power banks must be kept in front of passengers so that smoke can be visible at the earliest if they catch fire, and not be kept in overhead baggage compartments.
However, the biggest scare on this front remains airlines taking cabin bags from passengers at the boarding gate to be kept in the baggage hold of the aircraft. These cabin bags may contain PEDs or power banks. If a fire breaks out in the belly baggage hold, it may not be detected easily, posing a significant safety risk.
Industry Implications
This incident underscores the importance of strict adherence to safety regulations regarding electronic devices on flights. Airlines are increasingly vigilant, and passengers are advised to follow guidelines to prevent such incidents. The aviation industry continues to evaluate and update safety protocols to mitigate risks associated with personal electronic devices and power banks.
