An IndiGo flight operating from Delhi to Chennai was diverted to Hyderabad on Sunday after smoke was detected from a passenger’s personal electronic device onboard the aircraft.
The cabin crew responded promptly and brought the situation under control, the airline said.
Flight 6E 6115, operating on the Delhi-Chennai route on October 11, 2026, landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Shamshabad, Hyderabad, following the incident.
In a statement, an IndiGo spokesperson said the pilots diverted the flight in accordance with established safety protocols after smoke was detected from the device.
The cabin crew acted promptly to control the situation before the aircraft landed in Hyderabad.
“The cabin crew responded promptly and the situation was brought under control,” the spokesperson said, adding that the aircraft had landed safely at the airport.
The airline did not specify the type of electronic device involved or the exact cause of the smoke. Preliminary information about the incident had indicated that a passenger’s power bank may have caught fire onboard.
However, IndiGo’s statement referred to smoke from a personal electronic device without confirming whether it was a power bank.
A passenger onboard the IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai recounted the frightening experience after a fire broke out in a compartment inside the aircraft, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Hyderabad.
The passenger said the incident triggered panic among those onboard, with people initially unsure about what was happening. The crew tried several methods to extinguish the fire before eventually bringing it under control.
The flight subsequently made an emergency landing in Hyderabad. The passenger said those onboard were in Hyderabad and were expected to resume their journey to Chennai shortly.
Describing the experience as terrifying, the passenger said the incident had left them traumatised and uncertain about their safety at the time.
ALTERNATE AIRCRAFT ARRANGED FOR CHENNAI JOURNEY
IndiGo said it had arranged an alternate aircraft to take passengers to Chennai after the diversion. The airline also apologised for the disruption caused by the incident and said it was taking steps to minimise inconvenience to passengers.
“We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers due to this unforeseen situation and are making all efforts to minimise it, including offering refreshments and sharing timely updates,” the spokesperson said.
The airline reiterated that the safety of passengers and crew remained its top priority.
DETAILS OF INCIDENT AWAITED
Further details about the incident, including the number of passengers onboard and whether anyone sustained injuries, were not immediately available. It was also unclear how long passengers would have to wait before continuing their journey to Chennai on the alternate aircraft.
The incident prompted the diversion of the flight from its scheduled route, with the pilots opting to land at Hyderabad in line with established protocols.
Smoke from personal electronic devices can require immediate attention onboard an aircraft. In this case, the cabin crew responded to the incident, while the pilots diverted the flight and landed safely at Hyderabad airport.
Further information about the device involved, the cause of the smoke and the timelin rue for the flight’s onward journey to Chennai is awaited.
