MOHALI: A major accident was averted at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport on Tuesday after a power bank allegedly caught fire inside an IndiGo flight that had arrived from Hyderabad, triggering panic among passengers. Six people were injured and taken to hospital.According to airport officials, IndiGo flight 6E 108 from Hyderabad landed at Chandigarh airport at 3.29 pm. After the aircraft was parked at the apron for passengers to disembark, a power bank kept inside a passenger’s bag reportedly caught fire, causing smoke to fill the cabin and leading to chaos onboard.
Ajay Verma, CEO of Chandigarh International Airport, said, “After the flight landed and was parked in the apron area, a power bank blast occurred. There was no loss of life or property. A couple of injured passengers have been admitted to hospital, and all other passengers are safe.”Passenger Vikas Kapoor, who was seated on 39C, said the incident occurred next to his seat. “The power bank caught fire after the aircraft landed. The crew used a fire extinguisher and managed to control it initially. As it appeared to be burning internally, they tried placing it in a water container, but it reignited, filling the cabin with thick smoke. The flight was full and all exits were opened for evacuation. Had this happened mid-air, it would have been far more serious,” he said.Kapoor said several elderly passengers were rushed to hospital. He also alleged lapses in the airline’s response to complaints. “We were given a blank paper instead of a formal complaint form and were told that we would receive an acknowledgement with a seal and stamp, but nothing was provided. After around 45 minutes, we were asked to send an email instead,” he said.Another passenger, Divya Chauhan, seated in the third row, said passengers were initially told to remain seated after landing. “Shortly afterwards, we were asked to evacuate immediately and leave all belongings behind. At the airport, staff evaded responsibility when we pointed out that the device should have been checked or handled earlier,” she said.As panic spread, passengers were evacuated using emergency slides. Six passengers were injured during the evacuation. Among them was Dr Richa Acharya of the Punjab health department, who sustained a fracture in her right leg and underwent surgery. The other injured passengers were discharged after receiving first aid.Passengers said dense smoke quickly filled the cabin, reducing visibility and causing panic. Flight attendants used onboard firefighting equipment to contain the fire before the situation escalated.Dr Acharya’s husband, Saurav, alleged that adequate safety measures were not in place after the emergency slide was deployed. He claimed no cushioning or protective arrangements were placed beneath the slide, which could have reduced injuries. He also said their daughter sustained a knee injury and is recovering. He alleged that medical assistance was delayed, prompting passengers to protest at the airport before ambulances were arranged.Officials said around 199 passengers were onboard. Authorities noted that the incident could have had far more serious consequences had it occurred mid-air. Police and airport authorities have launched an investigation.In a statement, IndiGo said passenger safety remained its top priority and confirmed that the aircraft was evacuated immediately after the incident. The airline said all relevant authorities were informed and its ground team assisted passengers at the terminal.Passenger complaintsPassengers alleged that airline staff failed to properly register complaints and handed out blank sheets instead of official complaint forms.A handwritten complaint signed by around 15 passengers flagged multiple lapses in handling the onboard fire.The complainants said a power bank caught fire during disembarkation, putting lives at risk.They alleged delays in evacuation, an inadequate firefighting response and poor communication in the assembly area.The complaint described a “lethargic” response by a crew member handling a fire extinguisher.Passengers also raised concerns about lack of clarity on baggage delivery and sought compensation.Official statementOn May 5, 2026, at around 3.30 pm, IndiGo Airlines flight 6E 108 from Hyderabad arrived with around 200 passengers onboard. At approximately 3.38 pm, a suspected onboard fire triggered an emergency response. Air Force fire tenders were positioned near the aircraft and evacuation was initiated through all exits. CISF secured the area and all passengers were safely evacuated using emergency slides and escorted to the arrivals area. Medical assistance was provided at the MI room, while one injured passenger was shifted to hospital by ambulance. Refreshments were provided and additional seating arrangements were made. A detailed investigation is underway and the final report is awaited.
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