Passengers panic as power bank catches fire on Indian flight to Chennai

An IndoGo flight from Delhi to Chennai was forced to divert to Hyderabad after a power bank caught fire in an overhead luggage compartment, according to a video circulating on social media. The flames emerged as passengers removed their belongings, causing panic among the travelers. The cabin crew responded promptly, bringing the situation under control, and all passengers and crew were reported safe.

The airline cited smoke detected from a customer's personal electronic device as the reason for the diversion. Power banks, which contain lithium-ion batteries, can overheat or catch fire if damaged, defective, or improperly handled. Many airlines have instituted rules on power banks, including outright bans on their use during flights, following a fire on board a South Korean aircraft in January 2025.

Korean airlines banned the stowing of power banks in overhead compartments, requiring passengers to carry them on their person. Other Asian airlines such as Thai Airways, AirAsia, Eva Air, and China Airlines have also banned the use of external batteries on board their aircraft.

Brief written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.