IndiGo- Power Bank Catches Fire on IndiGo Flight, 6 Injured

IndiGo Flight: Passengers were evacuated in an emergency situation after a power bank ignited on an IndiGo flight. This incident occurred at Chandigarh airport, where the flight from Hyderabad had landed and passengers were getting ready to exit. During this time, a power bank reportedly caught fire, leading to smoke filling the cabin and causing panic among the passengers. It’s worth noting that earlier this year, the DGCA issued guidelines regarding power banks, stating that charging mobile devices or other gadgets with power banks is not allowed during flights.

An IndiGo flight from Hyderabad arrived at Chandigarh Airport, and shortly thereafter, individuals were seen exiting through the emergency exit. As passengers were about to disembark, a power bank unexpectedly caught fire. According to airport officials, six passengers sustained injuries in the incident and were transported to the hospital, while the rest of the passengers were evacuated safely.

In the wake of this incident, conversations have reignited about the regulations surrounding the carrying and usage of power banks on flights. Earlier this year, in January, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released a circular that enforced stricter rules regarding the use and charging of power banks during flights.

As per DGCA regulations, while carrying power banks on flights is not outright banned, they must be kept in hand luggage. The regulator has explicitly stated that power banks or spare batteries should not be placed in the overhead bin, as they can be hard to identify in case of a fire.

Moreover, the DGCA has also banned the charging of mobile phones or other devices using power banks during flights. This indicates that passengers are not permitted to use power banks for charging at any point during a flight. According to DGCA guidelines, airlines must also make cabin announcements for passengers. These announcements remind passengers to:

Keep power banks and spare batteries in hand baggage only.

• Do not use or charge the power bank during the flight.
• Immediately inform cabin crew if any device emits heat, smoke or a strange smell
• Store batteries safely to prevent them from short-circuiting