- An IndiGo flight carrying over 180 passengers was diverted mid-flight after a power bank ignited inside an overhead luggage compartment
- Smoke and flames broke out aboard the Airbus A321 as it travelled from Delhi to Chennai, sending passengers into a panic
- Cabin crew responded with firefighting equipment while some passengers tried to smother the flames using bags and cloth
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More than 180 passengers aboard an IndiGo flight were left shaken on Sunday after a power bank belonging to one of them caught fire inside an overhead storage compartment, forcing the crew to divert the aircraft to a different city.
Source: Facebook
IndiGo flight 6E 6115 had departed Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi at 1.30 pm local time on October 11, bound for Chennai.
The Airbus A321 never completed that journey. After smoke was detected coming from an overhead luggage bin, the pilots redirected the aircraft to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, where it touched down safely at 3.59pm, according to the flight-tracking platform FlightAware.
Chaos in the IndiGo Cabin
Video footage shared online captured the tense moments as passengers crowded the aisle, visibly alarmed by the flames visible inside the overhead compartment.
Some travellers improvised, using bags and pieces of cloth to try and beat back the fire, while cabin crew moved swiftly through the aircraft deploying firefighting equipment. Amid the commotion, one passenger could be heard appealing for calm.
The crew managed to bring the fire under control before the aircraft landed. No injuries were reported among those on board.
In a statement released to local media, the airline confirmed the sequence of events and said established safety protocols had been followed throughout.
"IndiGo flight 6E 6115, operating from Delhi to Chennai on October 11 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. In line with established protocols, the pilots diverted the flight and landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad. An alternate aircraft has been arranged to continue the journey to Chennai," the airline said.
IndiGo also acknowledged the disruption caused to passengers.
"We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers due to this unforeseen situation and are making all efforts to minimise it, including offering refreshments and sharing timely updates," it added.
Lithium-ion batteries, commonly found in power banks and other personal electronic devices, are known to be prone to thermal runaway, a condition in which the battery overheats uncontrollably and can ignite.
Aviation authorities in several countries have issued guidance on carrying such devices in aircraft cabins.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
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