What should passengers do if a power bank catches fire during a flight?

If a power bank catches fire during a flight, the practical first step is simple: alert the cabin crew immediately and follow their instructions.
The available report describes what happened on one IndiGo flight, but it does not provide a full passenger safety checklist. So the safest answer is to stick to what is confirmed and avoid making up procedures.
What the IndiGo incident confirms
A power bank caught fire inside an overhead cabin bin on an IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Chennai.
The aircraft was carrying more than 180 passengers. It was diverted and landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. No passenger injuries were reported.
Online videos described in the source showed flames in the overhead storage area and passengers trying to put them out.
What passengers should not assume from this report
The report does not confirm the exact airline instructions given in the cabin, the specific firefighting method used, or any official rule change after the incident.
So this incident should not be treated as a complete guide to handling lithium battery fires. For flight-specific safety instructions, passengers should follow the crew and check the airline’s official guidance.
What happened on IndiGo flight 6E 6115 after the power bank caught fire?

IndiGo flight 6E 6115 was operating from New Delhi to Chennai when a power bank caught fire inside an overhead cabin bin.
The reported sequence
The New Indian Express identified the aircraft as an Airbus A321 operating on October 11.
The reported timeline is:
- The flight departed on the New Delhi to Chennai route.
- A power bank caught fire in an overhead storage bin.
- Online videos described in the source showed flames in the cabin bin area.
- Passengers were seen trying to put out the flames.
- The aircraft diverted to Hyderabad.
- It landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
- No passenger injuries were reported.
How many passengers were onboard?
The aircraft was carrying more than 180 passengers, according to the available context.
What is not confirmed here
The report does not provide every operational detail, such as the exact timing of the diversion decision or the full onboard response. For any later official update from IndiGo or aviation authorities, check the latest confirmed announcement.
Can power banks be kept in overhead cabin bins on flights?

The IndiGo incident raises an obvious question: can passengers keep power banks in overhead cabin bins?
The provided report confirms where this fire happened, but it does not state a new rule about where power banks must be stored.
What is confirmed
A power bank caught fire inside an overhead cabin bin on an IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Chennai.
That flight was later diverted to Hyderabad, where it landed safely. No passenger injuries were reported.
What the report does not answer
The available source does not give a full policy on power bank storage. It does not say whether IndiGo changed its rules, whether regulators issued new instructions, or whether passengers on that flight were told to store power banks differently.
Because airline and aviation rules can be specific, passengers should check their airline’s current guidance before flying with a power bank.
Practical takeaway
This case confirms that a power bank fire can occur in an overhead cabin bin. It does not, by itself, confirm a broad rule change for all flights.
Sources / Learn more
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