What happened here
IndiGo flight 6E 6115 was operating from Delhi to Chennai on 11 October 2026 when smoke was detected from a passenger’s personal electronic device. IndiGo said the crew responded promptly, the situation was controlled and the pilots diverted to Hyderabad under established procedures. Hindustan Times reported 191 people aboard and a safe landing around 3.15 pm. Several reports identified the device as a power bank, but IndiGo’s own quoted statement described it more generally as a personal electronic device. This case study keeps that distinction clear.
Quick answers
Was the cause of the incident confirmed?
No. IndiGo’s quoted statement said smoke came from a passenger’s personal electronic device. Multiple reports called it a power bank, but no final technical cause was located as of 12 October 2026.
Can I put a power bank in checked baggage or an overhead bin on IndiGo?
No. IndiGo’s published policy says power banks and spare lithium batteries must be in hand baggage, within personal reach, and not in checked baggage or overhead compartments.
Can I use a power bank to charge my phone during an IndiGo flight?
IndiGo’s published lithium-battery policy says batteries must not be recharged on board and should not be used to recharge a portable electronic device on board. Check the current airline policy before travel.
What should I do if my power bank gets hot or smokes during a flight?
Tell cabin crew immediately, give the location, follow crew instructions and do not try to handle or contain the device yourself unless instructed.
- Smoke was detected from a passenger’s personal electronic device while flight 6E 6115 was travelling from Delhi to Chennai.
- Cabin crew responded and the situation was brought under control, according to IndiGo’s quoted statement.
- The aircraft landed safely at Hyderabad, according to Hindustan Times.
- IndiGo arranged another aircraft for the onward journey to Chennai, according to the airline statement reported by multiple outlets.
- No final technical cause or investigation finding was located in the sources reviewed.
Why consequences escalated
- What is established: the Delhi–Chennai service diverted safely after cabin smoke from a passenger device, and the crew contained the event.
- What is reported, not independently established here: several news reports call the device a power bank and describe a fire.
- What remains unknown: the device’s condition, its watt-hour rating, whether it was being used or charged, the precise location of the device, the technical failure sequence and any regulatory finding.
- Why wording matters: a lithium-battery incident can have different causes. Early footage or witness accounts do not establish fault, product defect or compliance with airline rules.
Failures and risk multipliers
- Do not touch, move, cover or throw a smoking device unless cabin crew instruct you to do so.
- Do not crowd the aisle, film close to the event or block crew access.
- Do not assume water, blankets or personal bags are an appropriate response; cabin crew use aircraft procedures and equipment.
- Do not put power banks in checked baggage or an overhead compartment on IndiGo flights.
- Do not use a power bank to charge a device during the flight; IndiGo’s published policy says not to recharge it or use it to recharge another device on board.
Actions that reduce risk
- Tell cabin crew immediately if a device becomes unusually hot, swells, smells unusual, hisses, smokes or catches fire.
- Follow the crew’s instructions promptly and remain seated unless directed otherwise.
- Keep the aisle and access to the affected seat clear.
- If you own the device, tell crew where it is and whether it was charging, but do not handle it unless instructed.
- Before travel, check the airline’s current battery policy; rules can change and may differ by carrier.
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