IndiGo A321neo Diverts to Hyderabad After Passenger's Power Bank Catches Fire in Overhead Bin
Why It MattersThe incident shows lithium-battery fires in the cabin remain a live operational risk for scheduled airlines, keeping carrier rules on stowing power banks under attention.
IndiGo flight 6E 6115, an Airbus A321neo (tail number VT-NOE) operating from Delhi to Chennai, was diverted to Hyderabad on October 11, 2026 after a passenger's power bank caught fire in an overhead storage bin. A video of the incident has circulated widely online, showing passengers and crew working to contain the blaze and move other passengers away from the danger. The aircraft landed safely at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and no injuries were reported.
An IndiGo spokesperson said the flight was diverted after smoke was detected from a customer's personal electronic device, that the cabin crew responded promptly and brought the situation under control, and that an alternate aircraft was arranged to continue the journey to Chennai. Passengers were taken on to their destination on the replacement aircraft.
IndiGo's policy allows power banks and spare or loose lithium batteries only in hand baggage and prohibits keeping them in overhead compartments or in checked luggage. The power bank in this case was stowed in violation of that policy. A full investigation will examine the exact cause and the full extent of the damage to VT-NOE.
