Power Bank Fire in Overhead Bin Forces IndiGo A321neo to Divert

An IndiGo Airbus A321neo flying from Delhi to Chennai diverted to Hyderabad on Sunday, October 11, after a fire broke out in an overhead bin. Indian media reports attribute the blaze to a malfunctioning power bank. The aircraft landed safely, and no injuries were reported.

What Happened on Board

Flight 6E 6115 left Delhi at about 1:30 p.m., slightly behind its 1:10 p.m. schedule, and was due in Chennai at 4:00 p.m. During the flight, a fire started in an overhead luggage compartment.

A video recorded by a passenger reportedly shows travelers beating the flames with their bags while cabin crew worked to bring the fire under control. The crew then put it out with extinguishers. The pilots diverted the aircraft to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, where it landed safely.

IndiGo’s statement was more cautious about the cause than the press coverage. 

IndiGo flight 6E 6115, operating from Delhi to Chennai on October 11, 2026, was diverted to Hyderabad after smoke was detected from a customer's personal electronic device. The cabin crew responded promptly, and the situation was brought under control. An alternate aircraft has been arranged to continue the journey to Chennai.

The airline said. 

Why Power Banks Are a Risk

Power banks use lithium-ion batteries, which can overheat after damage, a manufacturing fault or exposure to heat. The result can be thermal runaway, in which a cell heats itself and sets off neighboring cells, producing smoke and flames that are hard to put out.

A Pattern in Recent Years

The risk has already shaped rules in India. On October 19, 2025, a power bank stored in a seat-back pocket caught fire on IndiGo flight 6E 2107 at Delhi airport, and the aircraft returned to its bay. Cabin crew put the fire out, and the passengers were unharmed. India’s civil aviation minister said afterward that the DGCA would review the incident.

In late November 2025, the DGCA issued an advisory that allows power banks and spare lithium batteries only in hand baggage and prohibits them in overhead compartments, where fires are harder to spot. On January 4, 2026, it went further and banned passengers from using power banks to charge devices during flights, including through seat power outlets. Airlines must also make announcements about the rules and tell passengers to alert crew about heat, smoke or unusual smells.

Elsewhere, an Air Busan Airbus A321 was destroyed by fire at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea on January 28, 2025, while preparing to fly to Hong Kong. All 176 people on board were evacuated, with few minor injuries reported. Investigators said the fire began in an overhead bin and was likely caused by insulation breaking down inside a power bank battery.

What Passengers Should Know

Under the DGCA’s rules, travelers should carry power banks in hand baggage, keep them out of overhead bins and not use them to charge devices in flight. Passengers should tell cabin crew straight away if a device becomes hot or smokes.

What Comes Next

IndiGo has not said what caused the fire beyond identifying the device the smoke came from, and there is no word yet on whether the DGCA will examine this incident.