Another power bank fire has forced a flight to divert, this time an IndiGo service from Delhi to Chennai on Sunday. It's the latest reminder that the portable charger in your bag is now one of the most common causes of fires on planes.
The flight, 6E 6115, landed safely at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. According to reports in India, a passenger's power bank caught fire inside a bag in an overhead bin. Videos shared on social media appear to show passengers smothering the flames with clothing and backpacks, though Contrail hasn't independently verified them.
IndiGo said in a statement that "the cabin crew responded promptly and the situation was brought under control," and that the pilots diverted the flight "in line with established protocols." The airline's statement described smoke rather than a fire. IndiGo arranged another aircraft to take passengers on to Chennai, and no injuries have been reported.
Power Banks on Planes
How a Pocket Charger Became a Cabin Fire
lithium battery smoke, fire or overheating incidents on US passenger and cargo flights in 2024, a record
of US battery incidents on planes over the past two decades involved portable chargers
the usual limit for a power bank you can bring without airline approval
Contrail
Why Power Banks Catch Fire
Power banks run on lithium-ion batteries, the same kind in your phone and laptop. They pack a lot of energy into a small space, and if a battery is damaged, poorly made or overheats, it can go into what's called thermal runaway, a chain reaction where the battery heats itself faster and faster until it bursts into flames. Once that starts, it's very hard to stop, and it can reignite even after the flames seem to be out.
That's a problem on any device, but power banks are especially risky because people toss them around in bags, buy cheap ones online and often have no idea how old or worn out they are.
The numbers have been climbing. In the US, the FAA recorded 89 lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire or extreme heat on passenger and cargo flights in 2024, the most on record. Over the past two decades, nearly 40% of those incidents involved portable chargers.
Why the Overhead Bin Is the Worst Place for One
A small battery fire is usually manageable when someone can see it. Flight attendants are trained to deal with them and carry special equipment for the job. The danger comes when nobody notices until it's too late.
That's why airlines want power banks kept close. A charger in your seat pocket or under the seat in front of you gets spotted the moment it starts smoking. One zipped inside a bag in a closed overhead bin can burn for a while before anyone smells it, and by the time the bin is opened, the fire is far harder to put out.
IndiGo's own rules say power banks "must remain within the passenger's personal reach at all times" and "must not be stowed in overhead compartments or checked baggage." On Sunday's flight, that apparently didn't happen.
This isn't IndiGo's first scare. In October 2025, a power bank caught fire in a seat-back pocket on an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Dimapur while it was taxiing, and the crew contained it before takeoff.
The Rules for Flying With a Power Bank
The exact rules vary by country and airline, but a few apply almost everywhere:
- Carry-on only. Power banks are banned from checked bags because a fire in the cargo hold could go unnoticed.
- Watch the size. Most airlines allow power banks up to 100 watt-hours, which covers nearly every phone charger. Larger ones, up to 160 watt-hours, usually need airline approval. The rating is printed on the charger.
- Keep it within reach. Under the seat or in the seat pocket, never in the overhead bin.
- Check your airline before you fly. More airlines now ban using power banks during the flight at all. India's aviation regulator, the DGCA, bars passengers from using them on board, and Emirates, Singapore Airlines and several other Asian airlines have similar bans.
What You Should Do
Before your next trip, take a look at your power bank. If it's swollen, cracked, unusually hot when charging or noticeably older, replace it. Buy chargers from known brands rather than the cheapest option you can find, and keep it in a bag you'll have at your seat.
If your power bank, phone or any device starts to smoke or get very hot during a flight, don't try to handle it yourself or put it in a bag. Tell a flight attendant right away. They're trained for exactly this, and catching it in the first few seconds makes all the difference.
