IndiGo plane fire Delhi to Chennai: what happened on 6E 6115, and the power bank rules every flyer must know

Short answer: on Sunday, 11 October, a power bank caught fire in an overhead bin on IndiGo flight 6E 6115 from Delhi to Chennai. The crew put it out with fire extinguishers, the pilots diverted to Hyderabad and landed safely, and no one was hurt (NDTV, The Indian Express). The rules exist to stop exactly this: power banks belong on you, not in the overhead bin or checked bag, and in India you can't use them during the flight.

Check yours in 10 seconds: type the mAh on its label into our power bank flight checker. It converts it to watt-hours and tells you whether it's allowed in hand baggage, needs your airline's approval or isn't allowed at all.

What happened on 6E 6115

According to NDTV, flight 6E 6115, an Airbus A321-251N, was scheduled to leave Delhi at 1:10 PM and actually took off at 1:30 PM. It was due in Chennai at 4 PM. During the flight a fire broke out in an overhead luggage compartment. A passenger's video shared online shows other passengers first trying to smother it with their bags; the cabin crew then put it out with fire extinguishers (NDTV).

IndiGo's statement does not name the device: "IndiGo flight 6E 6115, operating from Delhi to Chennai on October 11, 2026, 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." The airline said it arranged an alternate aircraft to take passengers on to Chennai and offered refreshments while they waited (NDTV, Zee Business).

NDTV, The Indian Express and India Today report that the device was a power bank; India Today notes that IndiGo's statement itself did not confirm that. The Indian Express says "authorities have launched an investigation". We found no DGCA statement about this flight as of 8:45 PM IST. The power bank's brand and capacity have not been reported.

A passenger told India Today the incident caused panic on board and left them "traumatised". The number of passengers on board has not been reported.

It has happened before on IndiGo

• 5 March 2026, Chandigarh: an IndiGo flight was evacuated on landing after a passenger's power bank caught fire. DGCA said it had been kept in a seat pocket; two fire extinguishers were used and everyone got off safely (NDTV).
• October 2025, Delhi: a passenger's power bank reportedly caught fire on a Dimapur-bound IndiGo plane while it was taxiing. No one was hurt (NDTV).

The power bank rules for flights in India

These come from IndiGo's dangerous goods table (published on goindigo.in, April 2026), which follows IATA's rules and adds DGCA and BCAS restrictions, and from DGCA's Dangerous Goods Advisory Circular 01/2025 of 11 November 2025.

• Why watt-hours, not mAh? Wh measures the energy in the battery. Wh = mAh × V ÷ 1,000. A 20,000 mAh power bank at 3.7 V is 74 Wh; 27,000 mAh is about 99.9 Wh; 30,000 mAh is about 111 Wh. If the label prints a Wh figure, use that.
• The 100–160 Wh band at IndiGo: its table lists these with operator approval. NDTV reports that IndiGo's baggage page allows them only for portable medical devices, with approval at the check-in counter. If yours is in this band, ask IndiGo before you travel.
• Two power banks: IndiGo's table says "no more than two power banks may be carried per person" and notes BCAS's limit of two spare lithium batteries per person.

What DGCA's November 2025 advisory changed

DGCA told airlines to announce that passengers must carry power banks and spare batteries only in hand baggage, that "using or charging power banks is not allowed during flight", and that passengers should tell the crew immediately if a device gives off heat, smoke or an unusual smell. It also said power banks and spare batteries "shall not be placed in overhead bins". NDTV reported at the time that this covers charging from the aircraft's seat power outlets too.

The circular explains the risk: a lithium battery fire "can be started by uncontrolled heating, overcharging, crushing or internal short circuit", and such fires "may be self sustaining". In a closed overhead bin, smoke can go unnoticed until it is too late. This runaway overheating is called thermal runaway.

Do's and don'ts before you fly

Do:

• Pack your power bank in your hand baggage and take it out to keep on you, in the seat pocket or under the seat in front.
• Check the Wh rating on the label (or use our checker). Keep it at 100 Wh or less unless your airline has approved it.
• Carry no more than two.
• Protect the terminals from short circuits: keep it in its retail box, a pouch or a separate plastic bag, and tape exposed contacts (IndiGo, DGCA).
• Tell the crew at once if it gets hot, swells, smokes or smells odd.

Don't:

• Put a power bank in checked baggage, at any size.
• Put it in the overhead bin.
• Use it or charge it during the flight, including from the seat's USB or power outlet.
• Pack a power bank that is swollen, dented or damaged. DGCA's circular lists crushing, ageing and damage from mishandling among the causes of battery fires.
• Wait if a device starts to smoke. Alert the crew immediately; DGCA has asked airlines to train crew to recognise and fight lithium battery fires.

Myth vs fact

FAQ

What happened on the IndiGo Delhi to Chennai flight?

On 11 October 2026, smoke and fire from a passenger's device, reported to be a power bank in an overhead bin, forced IndiGo flight 6E 6115 to divert to Hyderabad. The crew put out the fire and the plane landed safely. No injuries were reported (IndiGo, NDTV).

Is a 20,000 mAh power bank allowed on a flight?

Yes, in hand baggage. At 3.7 V it is about 74 Wh, under the 100 Wh limit. You can carry up to two, but not in checked baggage or the overhead bin, and you can't use it on board.

Can I carry a 30,000 mAh power bank on IndiGo?

At 3.7 V that is about 111 Wh, which is over 100 Wh. IndiGo's table needs operator approval for 100–160 Wh, and NDTV reports its baggage page allows these only for medical devices. Check with IndiGo before you fly, or carry a smaller one.

Can I charge my phone with a power bank during the flight?

No. DGCA's November 2025 advisory says using or charging power banks is not allowed during flight in India, including from seat power outlets.

Where should I keep my power bank on the plane?

On you, in the seat pocket or under the seat in front, where you and the crew can see it. Not in the overhead bin.

Why can't power banks go in checked baggage?

A lithium battery fire in the cargo hold can't be seen or reached by the crew. That's why spare lithium batteries must travel in the cabin.

This story will be updated if IndiGo, DGCA or AAIB release findings on the cause.