Another Power bank explodes aboard IndiGo Airline plane during Delhi to Chennai flight in India
Another incident involving a power back-up pack for smartphones, which exploded on a plane during flight has been reported in India.
This time it occurred aboard an IndiGo Airline’s flight operating from Delhi to Chennai.
The aircraft was then forced to divert to Hyderabad on Sunday, October 11, 2026, after smoke was detected from a passenger’s in-flight baggage which was stored in the plane’s overhead rack.
Somehow a personal electronic device, reportedly a power bank, which was contained in the package had exploded.
According to the available flight Details, the aircraft was an IndiGo 6E6115 Airbus A-321NEO, with registrations VT-NOE.
The plane was flying from Delhi International Airport (DEL) heading to Chennai (MAA) the Capital of Tamil Nadu in India.
After the incident it was diverted to land at Hyderabad Airport (HYD) in the Capital of Telangana, India.
The departure time was approximately 1:30 PM IST and the plane was scheduled to arrive in Chennai at about 4:00 PM IST
But what really happened in the sky?
The power bank reportedly caught fire inside the aircraft’s overhead luggage compartment, triggering alarm among passengers.
The cabin crew responded promptly and used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire and bring the situation under control.
Following established safety protocols, the pilots diverted the aircraft to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, where it landed safely.
IndiGo subsequently arranged an alternative aircraft to transport passengers to Chennai, while the Airbus underwent thorough inspection and repairs.
As an aviation Safety Reminder, it should be noted that power banks contain lithium-ion batteries that can overheat and ignite.
And The Tanzania Times has learned that one of IndiGo Airline policies requires power banks to be carried in hand baggage and kept within passengers’ personal reach, rather than stored in overhead compartments.
The incident once again highlights the importance of lithium-battery safety and the critical role of cabin crew training in managing onboard emergencies.
The airline confirmed that smoke was detected from a passenger’s personal electronic device; the identification of the device as a power bank has so far been reported by various other social media platforms in India.
The incident comes less than a month after another Power Bank exploded aboard a KLM plane during flight from Amsterdam to Curacao, forcing the aircraft to also make an emergency landing.