Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): An IndiGo flight arriving from Hyderabad was forced into an emergency evacuation at Chandigarh airport on Tuesday afternoon after a passenger’s portable power bank caught fire. Flight 6E108 had already completed its landing and was stationary on the tarmac when the personal electronic device began to emit smoke and flames, causing immediate concern within the cabin. Despite the unsettling nature of the event, airline officials confirmed that the situation was handled with professional haste and no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.
The aircraft’s cabin crew, who receive specialized training for high-heat emergencies involving lithium-ion batteries, acted instantly to contain the fire. As a standard safety precaution, they initiated an immediate evacuation of all souls on board. Ground staff assisted in moving the travellers from the aircraft to the safety of the terminal building, where they were monitored and provided with any necessary assistance. While the evacuation was a disruption to the routine arrival, it served as a successful demonstration of the emergency protocols designed to protect passengers in such rare circumstances.
In an official statement released following the incident, an IndiGo spokesperson emphasized that the safety of customers and crew remains the company’s highest priority. The airline has notified the appropriate aviation authorities, and the aircraft has been temporarily grounded to undergo thorough safety inspections. Technical teams will evaluate the cabin interior and surrounding systems before the plane is cleared to resume its scheduled operations. The event highlights why airlines maintain such meticulous standards regarding portable electronics, as even a small battery can necessitate a large-scale emergency response.
