NEW DELHI: A potential mid-air chaos was narrowly avoided on Tuesday when a power bank allegedly caught fire inside an IndiGo flight shortly after it landed at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, triggering panic and an emergency evacuation that left six passengers injured.According to officials, flight 6E 108 from Hyderabad landed at 3.29pm and had reached the apron when the device, kept inside a passenger’s bag, reportedly ignited. Smoke quickly spread through the cabin, causing chaos among the nearly 199 passengers onboard.Notably, power banks are classified as restricted items in aviation, permitted only in cabin baggage under strict limits and not allowed in checked-in luggage, raising questions over how the device was carried and screened before boarding.Airport CEO Ajay Verma said there was no loss of life or property. “The incident occurred after landing while the aircraft was parked. A few injured passengers were taken to hospital, while others are safe,” he said.
Passengers described tense moments as the fire repeatedly reignited. Vikas Kapoor, seated near the affected row, said crew members initially used extinguishers before attempting to submerge the device in water. “It kept burning internally and filled the cabin with thick smoke. Had this happened mid-air, it would have been far more serious,” he said.As panic spread, all exits were opened and passengers were evacuated using emergency slides. Six people were injured in the process, including Dr Richa Acharya of the Punjab health department, who suffered a leg fracture and underwent surgery. Others were treated for minor injuries and later discharged.Some passengers also alleged lapses in handling after the incident. Kapoor claimed they were not provided formal complaint forms and were instead asked to send emails later. Divya Chauhan, seated in the front rows, said passengers were first told to remain seated before being abruptly ordered to evacuate, leaving belongings behind. She also questioned whether the device should have been flagged earlier.
Family members of the injured flagged safety concerns during evacuation, alleging inadequate cushioning under slides and delays in medical assistance. This reportedly led to protests at the airport before ambulances were arranged.Officials confirmed that prompt onboard action by the crew helped contain the fire before it escalated further. Police and airport authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.In a statement, IndiGo said passenger safety remains its top priority and confirmed that the aircraft was evacuated immediately, with all relevant authorities informed and assistance provided at the terminal.The incident comes days after TOI reported safety concerns over emergency handling at Indira Gandhi International Airport following an engine fire scare on a Swiss International Air Lines Delhi–Zurich flight, where passengers had similarly flagged confusion and delays in ground response despite a smooth evacuation onboard, raising broader questions over airport preparedness and screening protocols.
