A power bank fire broke out onboard an IndiGo A321 after landing at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh, India, on May 5.
Flight 6E108 from Hyderabad landed at 3:29 pm, and the fire was reported minutes later as the aircraft taxied to Bay 1. The crew evacuated all 198 passengers and six crew by 3:35 pm, and an Indian Air Force fire tender attended at 3:38 pm but was not required.
The aircraft remains on the ground pending investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Cabin crew responded in seconds
In November 2025, the DGCA’s Dangerous Goods Advisory Circular mandated that power banks be carried in seat pockets or under the seat for quick intervention and detection.
As the passenger was compliant with the new rules by stowing the power bank in the seat pocket, the cabin crew responded in seconds and extinguished the fire.
Lithium-ion batteries can enter thermal runaway, which water cannot extinguish. Detection within seconds is critical to prevent the fire from intensifying.
Power bank fires have driven a global regulatory response
Over recent years, there have been numerous power-bank-related incidents which caused the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to introduce new rules in March 2026.
Passengers are now limited to two power banks per flight, in-flight charging is banned, and power banks above 160 watt-hours are prohibited entirely.
January 2025, Air Busan: A power bank in an overhead locker ignited on an A321 at Gimhae Airport, South Korea. The aircraft was destroyed, but all passengers were evacuated with 27 minor injuries. This incident was the defining moment for regulatory change.
July 2025, Virgin Australia: A mid-air power bank fire prompted Australian carriers to ban in-flight use from December 2025, ahead of ICAO’s regulations.
October 2025, Air China: Crew managed to contain a power bank fire in an overhead locker during flight.
October 2025, IndiGo: Cabin crew extinguished a power bank fire during taxi at Delhi.
January 2026, T’Way Airlines: A 737 MAX 8 had a power bank emit smoke in the cabin. The crew was able to submerge it in water and store it safely.
January 2026, Asiana Airlines: Crew extinguished an overhead locker power bank fire in three minutes on a flight to Hong Kong.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recorded 93 lithium battery incidents in 2025, up from 89 in 2024.
AirlineRatings.com published ICAO’s new rules in March 2026. Find out more here.
IndiGo is a Five Star safety rated airline
As part of AirlineRatings.com’s airline safety rating programme, which rates more than 320 global airlines, it rates IndiGo as a Five Star safety rated airline. The airline is registered with IOSA, has had no fatal accidents in the past decade and is permitted to fly within and over the EU.
AirlineRatings.com deducted two stars due to pilot-related incidents and operational concerns. IndiGo’s A321 fleet has had eight tail strikes in 18 months as of March 2025, and the DGCA has cited concerns over pilot handling during critical phases of flight.
In July 2023, the DGCA fined IndiGo ₹30 lakh ($36,000) for deficiencies in pilot training documentation and operational procedures.
The DGCA fined the airline ₹22.2 crore ($2.6 million) following a major operational meltdown in December 2025. The disruption led to the cancellation of 4,500 flights, affecting over one million passengers. The airline blamed regulatory changes to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). The DGCA’s investigation found the airline had failed to prepare for changes announced well in advance.
Suggested read: World's safest airline rankings for 2026
IndiGo assures cooperation with the investigation
IndiGo’s A321 remains grounded pending an investigation by the DGCA. The carrier has confirmed it will fully cooperate with the regulator and that all passengers were attended to at the terminal.
India’s aviation ministry is also reviewing the risks of gate-checked bags where power banks may end up in the cargo hold. Power bank fires in the cargo hold are more difficult to detect than in the cabin.
AirlineRatings.com will continue to monitor this incident and provide any updates as they become available.
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