Quick summary
A passenger’s power bank ignited in the seat pocket of IndiGo flight 6E-108 from Hyderabad to Chandigarh on May 5, 2026, forcing the emergency evacuation of 198 passengers and 6 crew via all six emergency slides after the aircraft reached its bay at Chandigarh airport. One female passenger was hospitalized with an ankle injury sustained during the slide evacuation. The aircraft has been grounded pending safety inspections, and India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has confirmed the incident and opened a mandatory investigation.
This is the second high-profile cabin fire incident involving an Indian carrier in recent months. The power bank involved was in the seat pocket at row 39C — not in the overhead bin, not in checked luggage, exactly where most travelers keep theirs.
A lithium battery fire turned a routine arrival into a full emergency evacuation at Chandigarh airport on Monday afternoon. IndiGo flight 6E-108, operating from Hyderabad, had just reached its parking bay when smoke began filling the cabin — traced immediately to a power bank overheating in the seat pocket at row 39C.
Cabin crew deployed all six emergency slides and used two fire extinguishers to contain the flames before an IAF fire tender arrived. The fire was controlled by the crew. That detail matters: the system worked, but only just.
One hundred and ninety-eight passengers and six crew were on board. One female passenger was taken to hospital with an ankle injury from the slide evacuation — the only reported casualty. The aircraft remains grounded as of this report, undergoing mandatory safety checks before it can return to service. DGCA sources confirmed the power bank was in a seat pouch when it ignited during taxi to the bay, approximately 3:30 PM local time.
For travelers with IndiGo bookings through Hyderabad or Chandigarh today, disruption is ongoing. For everyone else flying any Indian carrier: your power bank policy just became a front-line safety issue.
What happened on flight 6E-108 — and what the investigation will examine
The sequence is now well-established. Flight 6E-108 landed at Chandigarh and was taxiing to its bay when a passenger’s power bank in the seat pocket at row 39C began overheating and caught fire. Smoke spread through the cabin rapidly enough that crew initiated a full emergency evacuation — all six slides deployed simultaneously, the standard protocol when fire is confirmed onboard.
Cabin crew contained the fire using two onboard extinguishers. An IAF fire tender was dispatched to the apron but the blaze was already under control by the time it arrived. Official statements and passenger visuals confirmed the evacuation and IndiGo’s response. The airline activated protocols per DGCA CAR Section 3 Series M Part IV and notified authorities as required.
The injured passenger — ankle fracture from the slide — is the human cost of a 30-to-60-minute disruption that could have been far worse.
| Factor | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers on board | 198 passengers + 6 crew | All evacuated |
| Ignition source | Power bank, seat pocket row 39C | Confirmed by DGCA sources |
| Evacuation method | All 6 emergency slides deployed | Completed |
| Fire suppression | 2 onboard extinguishers; IAF tender dispatched | Fire controlled by crew |
| Injuries | 1 female passenger — ankle injury | Hospitalized |
| Aircraft status | Grounded, safety inspections underway | Pending clearance |
| DGCA investigation | Mandatory — report due within 30 days | Opened |
This incident follows a pattern that Indian aviation regulators cannot ignore. The SWISS A330 engine fire and emergency evacuation at Delhi in late April — which injured six passengers — demonstrated how quickly slide evacuations turn chaotic when passengers don’t follow crew instructions. The 6E-108 evacuation appears to have been more orderly, but the underlying risk is identical: lithium batteries are the fastest-growing fire hazard in commercial aviation, and the seat pocket is the worst possible place to store one.
Flight deals
most people never see
Our AI monitors 150+ airlines for pricing anomalies that traditional search engines miss. Air Traveler Club members save $650 per trip per person on average: see how it works.
Each deal saves 40–80% vs. regular fares:
Why lithium battery fires are uniquely dangerous in aircraft cabins
Lithium batteries don’t burn — they undergo thermal runaway, a self-sustaining chemical reaction that generates its own oxygen. Standard fire extinguishers slow it; they don’t stop it. That’s why aviation regulators worldwide require lithium batteries in the cabin rather than the hold: at least crew can see and respond to a fire. A smoldering power bank in checked luggage, undetected for 20 minutes at altitude, is a different category of emergency entirely.
The DGCA‘s current rules — carry-on batteries under 100Wh approved, 100–160Wh with airline approval, no loose or damaged spares — mirror ICAO Annex 6 standards. Most consumer power banks sold in India fall under 100Wh and are technically compliant. The problem is enforcement: bag checks rarely include watt-hour verification, and passengers routinely carry unchecked, unlabeled devices. This incident will almost certainly accelerate scrutiny at the gate.
India has seen a cluster of lithium battery incidents across carriers in 2025–26. That pattern is what drives regulatory action — not individual events, but frequency.
Steps for affected passengers and anyone flying IndiGo soon
Ongoing aircraft checks at Chandigarh are creating a ripple across IndiGo‘s afternoon and evening schedule — and DGCA‘s investigation means heightened scrutiny at security and boarding gates on all Indian domestic routes for the coming weeks.
- Check your flight status now: Visit goindigo.in/manage or call 09910383838 if you have a booking through Hyderabad or Chandigarh today. Delays from aircraft substitution are possible as IndiGo reallocates fleet.
- Know your rebooking rights: Under DGCA passenger rules, a delay exceeding three hours entitles you to fee-free rebooking. Request this explicitly at the IndiGo desk — it is not always offered proactively.
- Audit your carry-on batteries before your next flight: Check the watt-hour (Wh) rating on every power bank you own. Under 100Wh is approved carry-on. Between 100–160Wh requires prior airline approval. Damaged, swollen, or unlabeled devices are prohibited regardless of capacity — and gate agents are about to start checking.
- Follow DGCA updates: Monitor @DGCAIndia on X for any emergency directives on lithium battery carriage. A policy change could come quickly if the investigation identifies a compliance gap.
- In an emergency evacuation: Leave everything behind. The one injury in this incident came from the slide — not the fire. Luggage retrieval is not worth a broken ankle or worse.
Watch: The DGCA investigation report is due within 30 days (by approximately June 4, 2026). If it cites a policy gap — particularly around the 100–160Wh approval threshold — expect a tightened rule affecting all Indian carriers. IndiGo‘s Q1 FY27 earnings in late July 2026 may also reference safety capital expenditure if this incident triggers fleet-wide equipment reviews.
Questions? Answers.
Are passengers on flight 6E-108 entitled to compensation for the disruption?
This incident falls outside standard DGCA compensation rules — it is classified as a safety-related ground disruption rather than a scheduled delay or cancellation. Passengers are entitled to refreshments if the wait exceeds two hours, and to fee-free rebooking if the delay exceeds three hours, but monetary compensation is not mandated. Credit card trip delay benefits (such as those on Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve) typically require a delay of six hours or more confirmed by the airline — this incident is unlikely to meet that threshold.
Can I bring my power bank on an IndiGo flight right now?
Yes, with conditions. Power banks under 100Wh are approved carry-on on all Indian carriers. Devices rated 100–160Wh require advance airline approval. No loose, damaged, or unlabeled lithium batteries are permitted in any form. Critically: power banks must be in your carry-on bag or on your person — not in checked luggage. Following this incident, expect gate agents to ask about batteries and potentially verify ratings. Check your device’s label before you leave for the airport.
What does a DGCA mandatory investigation actually involve?
Under Indian aviation regulations, any onboard fire triggers a mandatory investigation by the DGCA, with a report due within 30 days. Investigators examine the device involved, crew response, aircraft systems, and whether existing carriage rules were followed. The report can result in new directives to all Indian carriers — including changes to battery carriage rules, crew training requirements, or gate screening procedures. The outcome of this investigation could affect every passenger flying any Indian domestic airline.
Is IndiGo considered a safe airline despite this incident?
IndiGo holds an IOSA certification renewed in 2025 and an Air Operator Certificate under DGCA CAR Section 3 Series M Part I, renewed December 2025. The airline recorded zero fatal incidents in 2025–26 and an on-time performance of 82.4% in the first four months of 2026. Lithium battery fires are an industry-wide hazard — not an IndiGo-specific problem — and the crew’s response in this incident, containing the fire before external services arrived, reflects trained protocol execution.
