Chandigarh airport news: A tense situation was reported at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Mohali on Tuesday after an IndiGo flight from Hyderabad experienced a smoke scare caused by a passenger’s power bank, prompting an emergency evacuation shortly after landing.

The aircraft, operating as IndiGo Flight 6E-108, landed safely in Chandigarh at approximately 3.29 pm. The flight was carrying 198 passengers, including two infants, along with six crew members.

According to airport sources, the incident occurred while the aircraft was taxiing toward Bay No. 1. A passenger seated on 39C alerted the cabin crew after noticing smoke and flames emanating from his personal power bank, which is suspected to have malfunctioned or exploded.

The situation escalated quickly as smoke began to spread inside the cabin, causing panic among passengers. However, the cabin crew responded promptly, using onboard fire extinguishers to contain the fire before it could intensify.

Following the incident, the crew declared an emergency as a precautionary measure. At around 3.35 pm, evacuation procedures were initiated  and passengers were guided out of the aircraft using inflatable emergency slides.

During the evacuation, one passenger sustained a minor ankle injury, while a few others reportedly suffered minor discomfort due to panic and smoke exposure. No serious injuries or casualties were reported.

An Indian Air Force fire tender reached the aircraft within minutes, around 3.38 pm. However, by the time emergency teams arrived, the fire had already been brought under control by the flight crew  and no further assistance was required.

IndiGo Statement

In an official statement, IndiGo confirmed the incident, clarifying that the aircraft was stationary after landing when a passenger’s personal electronic device caught fire.

“In the interest of safety, an immediate evacuation was carried out and all relevant authorities were informed. All customers were safely escorted to the terminal and are being attended to,” the airline spokesperson said.

The airline further stated that the aircraft will undergo a thorough inspection before being cleared for future operations, reiterating that passenger and crew safety remains its highest priority.