An emergency evacuation was launched at Chandigarh airport on Tuesday after a passenger’s power bank caught fire. According to officials, the incident occurred on an IndiGo flight from Hyderabad to Chandigarh.
“On 5 May 2026, while IndiGo flight 6E 108 from Hyderabad to Chandigarh was parked after landing, an incident was reported involving a customer’s personal electronic equipment catching fire,” IndiGo Airlines confirmed in a statement to the press.
The company added: “In the interest of safety, an immediate evacuation was carried out and all relevant authorities were immediately informed. All customers were safely transported to the terminal and the team is taking care of them to ensure their safety. The aircraft will undergo the necessary checks before resuming operations. At IndiGo, the safety of our customers and crew remains our top priority.”
Based on the photos shared by passengers on social media platform X, the plane’s passengers were seen evacuating the runway.
Passengers also stated that due to the fire, the plane’s cabin was filled with smoke. About five passengers were suspected to be injured and were taken to hospital.
New DGCA rules on power banks on flights
Power banks are allowed on flights only in carry-on baggage. Based on new rules issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in 2026, passengers are not allowed to use power banks on board flights to charge phones and other devices.
The DGCA rules also added that items such as power banks and spare batteries cannot be stored in overhead compartments on flights, as fires are difficult to detect and control in such locations.
