Power banks are a familiar travel essential, but a fire aboard an IndiGo flight has prompted India’s aviation regulator to prohibit one specific model from being carried on any passenger or cargo flight operating to, from or within India. Recently, an Indigo Delhi-Chennai flight was diverted to Hyderabad following a passenger's powerbank caught fire mid-air inside flight.
Which power bank has DGCA banned?
Following the incident, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) prohibited the MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 power bank from being carried or transported on passenger and cargo flights operating to, from and within India.
According to a TOI’s report, the restriction was imposed in view of a recent fire incident involving this model and the potential safety risks associated with it.
The order, issued under DGCA chief Vir Vikram Yadav, directs airlines to identify the specified power bank and inform passengers about the prohibition. The model cannot be carried on a flight or transported as cargo under the restriction.
The ban applies to this named model. It should not be interpreted as a blanket prohibition on every power bank.
Passengers must check the make and model of any power bank they plan to carry and follow current airline and aviation authority instructions.
What happened on IndiGo Delhi to Chennai flight 6E 6115?
An IndiGo flight travelling from Delhi to Chennai was diverted to Hyderabad on October 11 after smoke was detected from a passenger’s personal electronic device, according to an airline statement reported by ANI and covered by Times of India (TOI).
Flight 6E 6115 landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad after cabin crew responded to the incident and brought the situation under control. IndiGo said its pilots diverted the aircraft in line with established safety protocols.
The airline arranged an alternative aircraft to continue the passengers’ journey to Chennai and apologised for the disruption. TOI reported that the device involved was a power bank or another personal electronic device containing a lithium-ion battery.
The incident put the risks associated with portable batteries back in focus, particularly when a device starts smoking or catches fire inside an aircraft cabin.
Why do power banks explode inside planes?
Lithium-ion batteries are widely used because they can store substantial energy in a relatively compact space. They power smartphones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches and portable chargers, making them common in passengers’ bags.
However, a battery can become a fire hazard if its internal components fail, it is damaged, it overheats or it is exposed to unsuitable charging conditions.
A process known as thermal runaway can occur when a battery cell heats up uncontrollably. The rising temperature can trigger further chemical reactions, generating more heat and potentially causing smoke, fire or the release of gases. In some cases, a battery may rupture or appear to explode.
A BBC’s report on lithium-ion battery risks has highlighted concerns about battery quality, unsuitable cables and poor device care. These are among the factors that can contribute to battery-related incidents, although the precise cause of an individual fire needs to be established separately.
Why are battery fires particularly dangerous during a flight?
A battery fire can be difficult to manage in an aircraft because the crew must respond to smoke or flames in a confined cabin while keeping passengers safe and deciding whether the flight should continue.
Lithium-ion battery incidents can also involve intense heat and repeated flare-ups. Extinguishing visible flames may not mean the battery has cooled sufficiently to eliminate the risk of reignition
BBC also quoted UK Civil Aviation Authority official Jonathan Nicholson as saying lithium-ion batteries had been among the aviation industry’s top risks for several years. The concern extends beyond power banks to other devices containing rechargeable batteries.
What do aviation safety rules mean for passengers?
Power banks and spare lithium batteries are subject to specific carriage requirements because of the risks they pose. Airline instructions generally require these items to be carried in cabin baggage rather than checked baggage, subject to applicable capacity limits and other conditions.
Passengers should also follow airline directions about where to keep such devices. IndiGo’s published guidance, as widely reported, says power banks should remain within passengers’ reach and should not be stored in overhead compartments or checked baggage.
Why should power banks stay within reach during a flight?
Keeping a battery accessible helps passengers and cabin crew notice warning signs, such as unusual heat, swelling, a strange smell or smoke, and respond promptly.
If a power bank becomes unusually hot, swells or starts smoking, passengers should alert cabin crew immediately and follow their instructions rather than attempting to move or handle it themselves.
Passengers should check current airline rules before travelling, since restrictions can cover battery capacity, spare batteries, charging and where devices may be stored.