The incident of fire in a power bank in an Indigo flight has raised a big question on the safety of air travel. After landing in the flight going from Hyderabad to Chandigarh, suddenly there was a situation of smoke and fire, due to which there was panic among the passengers. The cabin crew immediately took charge of the situation and got the emergency evacuation done. This incident has once again made it clear that even a little carelessness regarding power bank can become a big danger. Here we are telling you the important ways to use and protect power banks while travelling.
This incident happened on 5 May 2026 in Indigo flight 6E 108, which was going from Hyderabad to Chandigarh. The flight had landed safely at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport at around 3:29 pm, but while taxiing, smoke and fire started coming out from a passenger's power bank. The passenger immediately informed the cabin crew, after which the fire was controlled with a fire extinguisher. However, by then smoke had spread in the cabin. Seeing the situation, emergency exits were opened and all the passengers were taken out through slides. During this time a passenger also suffered minor injuries.
DGCA has already tightened the rules regarding power banks. According to the advisory issued in November 2025, charging devices using power banks during flights is completely prohibited. This also includes charging through the seat power outlet. This rule was brought because there is a risk of overheating and fire in lithium batteries. After the recent incident, the importance of these rules has increased even more.
During air travel, power banks should always be kept in cabin baggage and not in check-in luggage. This is necessary so that in case of any problem, immediate action can be taken. If the power bank suddenly overheats, starts swelling or there is smoke or strange smell coming from it, the cabin crew should be informed immediately. Trying to handle it yourself can be dangerous. Apart from this, the power bank should be kept away from loose coins or metal objects, as this increases the risk of short circuit.
Before taking a power bank in a flight, definitely check its capacity. Power banks up to 100Wh (about 27,027 mAh) are generally allowed, but different airlines may have slightly different rules. Therefore, it is better to know the rules before travelling. To avoid last minute problems at the airport, advance preparation is necessary. Also keep in mind that safety rules are made not for your convenience but for your safety, so it is important to follow them.
