An explosion caused by a passenger’s power bank triggered panic and an emergency evacuation aboard an IndiGo flight shortly after it landed at Chandigarh’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
The Hyderabad–Chandigarh flight, carrying 198 passengers and six crew members, had just arrived at Bay 1 around 3:30 pm when smoke began filling the cabin. According to officials, the incident originated from a bag containing a power bank, which reportedly caught fire.
The passenger seated at 39C first alerted the crew about the fire. Cabin crew quickly responded using a fire extinguisher, but smoke spread rapidly through the aircraft, prompting immediate emergency procedures.
Authorities declared an emergency, and passengers were evacuated using emergency slides. During the evacuation, a woman passenger sustained a dislocated ankle and was later shifted to a private hospital. Reports suggest that a few other passengers may have suffered minor injuries and were taken for medical evaluation.
An Air Force fire tender was dispatched to the scene as a precautionary measure, though it was ultimately not required.
Airport CEO Ajay Verma confirmed that a detailed report from the airline is awaited.
In an official statement, IndiGo said, “On May 5, while 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 informed.”
The airline added that all passengers were safely escorted to the terminal and are being assisted by staff. The aircraft will undergo thorough safety checks before returning to service.
Visuals shared on social media showed passengers evacuating onto the tarmac amid visible smoke inside the cabin.
The incident has once again drawn attention to aviation safety rules regarding lithium-ion batteries. As per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines updated in 2026, power banks are permitted only in carry-on baggage and cannot be used during flights. Additionally, such devices must not be stored in overhead compartments, where potential fires are harder to detect and control.
Despite the alarming situation, timely intervention by the crew ensured that all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, preventing what could have been a more serious incident.
