Overview
- An IndiGo A321 taxiing in Chandigarh on Tuesday saw a power bank in a seat pocket near 39C ignite after landing, filling the cabin with smoke as crew used two extinguishers and deployed all six slides to evacuate roughly 200 people.
- Injury reports conflict, with the DGCA noting no major injuries while passengers and local media cite five to six hurt, including Richa Acharya, who fractured her leg on the slide and underwent surgery in Mohali after initial treatment in Zirakpur.
- Airport responders, including Indian Air Force fire tenders, CISF security and medical teams, secured the aircraft and moved evacuees to the terminal as ambulances took several passengers for evaluation.
- The aircraft remains grounded for technical and safety checks while IndiGo, airport authorities, police and the regulator open a joint investigation, and the airline’s customer team has assisted the injured passenger’s care and costs, according to family accounts.
- Under DGCA rules updated in 2026, power banks must stay in carry-on bags, cannot be used to charge devices in flight and should not be placed in overhead bins, a regime investigators will weigh alongside reports of passengers carrying bags down slides and claims of device use during landing.