IndiGo's Delhi-Chennai flight lands safely in Hyderabad after 'smoke' alert: news

IndiGo Delhi-Chennai Flight Diverted to Hyderabad After In-Flight Smoke Alert

An IndiGo aircraft en route from Delhi to Chennai made an emergency diversion and landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad following a mid-air smoke alert and fire scare.

Key Incident Details

• Flight Number: IndiGo Flight 6E-6115

  The Economic Times

• Route: Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi (DEL) to Chennai International Airport (MAA)

  The Economic Times

• Diversion Airport: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad, Hyderabad (HYD)

  The Economic Times

• Cause of Alert: A passenger’s portable power bank caught fire inside an overhead luggage compartment.

  NDTV

• Casualties / Injuries: Zero injuries; all passengers and crew members landed safely.

  The Economic Times

What Happened Mid-Air

While operating scheduled flight 6E-6115 from Delhi to Chennai, crew members and passengers noticed smoke and flames emanating from an overhead storage bin. The source was identified as a malfunctioning lithium-ion power bank stored in a carry-on bag.

The trained cabin crew responded immediately to standard emergency protocols, utilizing onboard fire extinguishers to suppress the fire and prevent it from spreading.

As a safety precaution to ensure cabin airworthiness and passenger safety, the cockpit crew declared an emergency diversion to Hyderabad, the nearest suitable diversion hub. The flight touched down without further incident, where emergency ground personnel and technical teams inspected the aircraft.

Aviation Safety Rules on Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion power banks and spare batteries are prone to thermal runaway under rare failure states. Civil aviation guidelines in India (DGCA) and globally (ICAO/IATA) mandate:

• Carry-On Luggage Only: Power banks must strictly be carried in cabin baggagenever in checked luggageso crew can address any thermal anomaly immediately.

• Prohibited in Inactive Cargo: Banning lithium batteries in cargo compartments prevents unmonitored fires in aircraft holds.

• Onboard Extinguishment: Airline crews receive specialized training in isolating and cooling smoldering electronic devices.

Aviation regulators and airline safety teams have initiated a standard review of the incident, while alternative travel arrangements were coordinated for the stranded passengers to reach Chennai.