Terrifying scenes unfolded aboard a packed passenger jet when a portable phone charger caught fire inside an overhead luggage compartment, sending frightened travelers scrambling as flames and smoke filled part of the cabin.
The frightening incident occurred Sunday, October 11, aboard an IndiGo Airlines flight traveling from New Delhi to Chennai, India, with more than 180 passengers on board.
Flight 6E 6115, operated by an Airbus A321, was cruising at approximately 35,000 feet when a power bank stored in a passenger’s bag reportedly overheated and ignited.
Video footage circulating on social media shows flames coming from an overhead storage compartment as passengers shout warnings and desperately try to control the situation.
Several travelers can be seen pulling belongings from the compartment, while others attempt to smother the flames with clothing.
Cabin crew quickly intervened, using firefighting equipment to extinguish the blaze and bring the situation under control.
Despite the fire being contained, the pilots made the decision to divert the aircraft to Hyderabad, roughly 320 miles northwest of Chennai, as a precaution.
The plane landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at approximately 3:15 p.m. local time. All passengers and crew members escaped without reported injuries.
IndiGo confirmed that smoke had been detected coming from a passenger’s personal electronic device and praised the crew’s quick response.
“The cabin crew responded promptly and the situation was brought under control,” an airline spokesperson said.
The carrier explained that the diversion followed established aviation safety procedures. Passengers were transferred to another aircraft to continue their journey to Chennai, while the airline provided refreshments and updates during the disruption.
The incident has renewed concerns about lithium-ion batteries, which power millions of everyday devices, including smartphones, laptops and portable chargers.
Although generally safe when properly manufactured and handled, these batteries can occasionally experience a dangerous chemical reaction known as thermal runaway.
When a battery overheats or develops an internal short circuit, its temperature can rise uncontrollably, potentially causing flames, intense heat and hazardous smoke.
The Federal Aviation Administration warns that damaged, defective or improperly stored lithium batteries can create serious fire hazards aboard aircraft.
Under U.S. aviation safety regulations, passengers are permitted to bring most power banks in their carry-on luggage, but they are prohibited from placing them in checked bags. Most batteries are limited to 100 watt-hours, with certain larger batteries requiring airline approval.
The FAA also advises travelers to keep portable chargers accessible during flights so cabin crews can respond immediately if a device begins overheating, swelling or smoking.
Airlines in several countries have introduced stricter restrictions on where power banks can be stored and whether passengers may use them during flights.
In India, aviation authorities have also urged airlines to keep portable chargers accessible rather than tucked away in overhead compartments.
Investigators are examining what caused the power bank aboard the IndiGo flight to ignite. Officials have not yet identified whether the device was defective, damaged or affected by another problem.
For the passengers aboard Sunday’s flight, what began as an ordinary trip quickly became a frightening reminder of how rapidly a small electronic device can create a dangerous situation thousands of feet above the ground.
Fortunately, the crew’s swift response prevented the fire from becoming a far more serious emergency.
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