IndiGo A321neo diverts to Hyderabad after power bank fire in cabin

An IndiGo Airbus A321neo on flight 6E 6115 from Delhi to Chennai diverted to Hyderabad on Sunday 11 October 2026 after a passenger's power bank caught fire in an overhead storage bin, according to Simple Flying. The aircraft landed safely and no injuries were reported.

What happened on flight 6115

Simple Flying reports that the aircraft, registered VT-NOE, was flying from Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport to Chennai International Airport when the device caught fire in the cabin. The jet landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. A video of the incident has reportedly gone viral, showing people on board struggling to contain the blaze and moving passengers away from the danger.

Simple Flying says WION reported a statement from an IndiGo spokesperson. In it, the airline said the flight was diverted "after smoke was detected from a customer's personal electronic device", that the cabin crew responded promptly and brought the situation under control, and that an alternate aircraft had been arranged to continue to Chennai.

Investigation and airline policy

Simple Flying reports that a full investigation will examine the cause and the extent of damage to the aircraft. The outlet also states that IndiGo's policy allows power banks and spare or loose lithium batteries only in hand baggage, and forbids keeping them in overhead compartments or in checked luggage. The source does not explain how that policy applies to the device in this case, and it does not say who was seated near the bin or how the fire was fought.

Why lithium battery fires are hard to handle

Simple Flying's analysis describes the failure mode as thermal runaway, a chain reaction in which a battery overheats and damages neighbouring cells. The outlet says such fires can exceed 600°C and may reignite minutes after visible flames are put out. It adds that a closed overhead bin traps heat and smoke, so a fire can build unseen before it reaches the cabin. These points are the outlet's own explanation rather than findings about this flight.

What this means for travellers

• Check the airline's rules. According to Simple Flying, IndiGo requires power banks and spare lithium batteries to be carried in hand baggage, not in checked luggage. Other airlines, such as British Airways, may have different rules on where devices can be kept in the cabin, so check before you fly.
• Keep devices where you can see them. A device in your seat pocket or bag under the seat is easier to notice than one in a closed bin, which the source says can hide a fire for several minutes.
• Report smoke or heat at once. Tell the crew immediately if a device becomes hot, swells or gives off smoke.
• Expect disruption after a diversion. In this case, IndiGo arranged another aircraft for the onward journey to Chennai. The sources do not say how long passengers waited.

Whether the device was a power bank carried in breach of policy, and what the investigation will conclude, is not yet known.

Compare the carriers on our IndiGo vs British Airways page.

Sources: Simple Flying