If your power bank starts smoking on a flight, alert cabin crew immediately. Press the call button and call out clearly. Do not wait for flames, pick up a smoking device or carry it down the aisle.
A portable charger can look harmless until it becomes unusually hot, swells or releases smoke. Recognising a problem early—and letting the crew respond—is more important than trying to save your phone, bag or charger.
This guide focuses on what passengers should do during an incident. For permitted battery sizes and packing requirements, see our separate Power Bank Rules on Flights in India.
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW? Stop reading and get a flight attendant’s attention. Say: “My power bank is overheating/smoking. It is here.” Point to its location, keep clear and follow the crew’s instructions.
What Happened on the October IndiGo Flight?
On 11 October 2026, IndiGo flight 6E 6115 from Delhi to Chennai diverted to Hyderabad after smoke was detected from a passenger’s electronic device. News reports identified the device as a power bank.
According to NDTV Profit’s report, the aircraft landed safely, the airline said the crew brought the situation under control, and an alternative aircraft was arranged. The airline’s statement did not establish the detailed cause of the device failure.
The incident is a reminder to take warning signs seriously. It is not evidence that every power bank will fail or that a particular brand caused the problem.
Warning Signs: You Do Not Need to Wait for Flames
The FAA’s passenger battery guidance says travellers should immediately notify crew if a battery or electronic device is overheating, expanding, smoking or burning.
| What you notice | How to respond |
|---|---|
| Unusual or rapidly increasing heat | Stop using the device and alert the crew. Do not keep testing whether it still charges. |
| A swollen, bulging or distorted casing | Report it. Do not squeeze the casing or try to push it back into shape. |
| A burning smell or unexpected hissing or crackling | Tell the crew what you noticed and where it seems to be coming from. |
| Smoke, sparks or flames | Get immediate attention. Keep clear and let the crew manage the response. |
You do not need to diagnose the fault. Describe what you can see, hear or smell without touching the device to investigate.
Why can a power bank catch fire?
Power banks contain rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. A damaged or faulty cell can enter thermal runaway: an uncontrolled heating process that can release gas and lead to fire. Damage, excessive heat and charging problems are among the possible triggers described in EASA’s lithium-battery safety guidance.
A battery does not have to be connected to a phone to develop a problem.
What Should You Do Immediately?
- Get the crew’s attention. Use the call button and speak loudly enough to be heard. Do not assume another passenger has already reported it.
- Identify the location clearly. Tell the crew whether the device is on your tray, in your bag, in an overhead compartment or trapped beside your seat.
- Describe the problem simply. For example: “There is smoke coming from the charger in the bag under this seat.” Tell them if it was connected to a phone or power outlet.
- Keep access clear. Do not crowd around the device or block the aisle to film. Move when the crew directs you.
- Report any injury or breathing difficulty. Tell the crew promptly if someone has been burned or affected by smoke.
Report first; explain later. You do not need the brand, capacity, receipt or a photograph before asking for help. Even if you accidentally packed or used the device incorrectly, do not delay reporting it.
Should you unplug it?
Do not reach through smoke or touch a hot or damaged device to disconnect a cable. Tell the crew what is connected and follow their instructions. Removing external power does not necessarily stop a battery failure already under way.
Dangerous Mistakes to Avoid
Transport Canada’s crew guidance on battery fires warns against moving an actively smoking or burning device, covering it, or using ice to cool it. For passengers:
- Do not carry it to the lavatory or galley. Point out its location to the crew.
- Do not hide it in a bag or wrap it in a blanket. Leave containment decisions to trained crew.
- Do not use ice or dry ice.
- Do not open the casing or remove the battery.
- Do not open a smoking overhead compartment yourself. Alert the crew and keep clear.
A personal pouch or improvised container is not a substitute for the airline’s emergency procedures.
Can Water Be Used on a Power-Bank Fire?
Yes—water has a role in trained crew procedures for lithium-ion battery incidents. The blanket claim that water must never be used on a power-bank fire is misleading.
The FAA’s in-flight fire guidance includes cooling affected devices with water or other appropriate nonflammable liquids. Extinguishing visible flames and cooling battery cells are different parts of the response.
This is not an instruction to improvise firefighting. Location, nearby electrical equipment and the device’s condition matter. Alert the crew and assist only as directed.
What if Your Phone or Power Bank Falls Into the Seat?
Do not operate the seat controls to retrieve it. Moving a reclining or powered seat can crush a trapped battery. Tell the crew where the device fell and whether the seat has already been moved.
Transport Canada’s guidance for trapped electronic devices specifically warns against using electrical or mechanical seat functions during retrieval.
This is especially relevant in seats with complex reclining mechanisms. Ask for help even if the device is not yet hot or smoking.
How Can You Reduce the Risk Before Flying?
Inspect the device before packing
Do not travel with a swollen, damaged or recalled power bank. Check the manufacturer’s recall information for your exact model and follow its instructions if the product is affected. A device that still switches on is not necessarily safe.
Keep power banks out of checked baggage
Power banks and spare lithium batteries belong in cabin baggage, subject to the applicable limits. If your cabin bag is taken for gate-checking, remove these items before handing it over. The FAA specifically highlights this gate-check precaution.
Follow your airline’s storage and charging rules
Permission to carry a power bank does not automatically mean permission to use or recharge it during the flight.
IndiGo’s published baggage policy requires power banks and spare lithium batteries to remain within the passenger’s personal reach rather than in an overhead compartment or checked baggage. Follow the operating airline’s latest instructions on each flight.
For capacity limits, terminal protection and airline-specific restrictions, use these detailed guides:
Prepare for a flight without your portable charger. Charge your phone before departure and keep essential booking details available offline or on paper. A low phone battery is not a reason to disregard an onboard charging restriction.
What Happens After the Smoke Stops?
A battery can reignite, so the end of visible smoke does not mean the incident is over. The crew may continue monitoring the device and keeping passengers away from it. Do not attempt to retrieve or reuse it.
A diversion is an operational decision for the pilots. Passengers should follow announcements rather than assume every incident requires the same response.
If your journey is disrupted, keep your boarding pass and booking details, and obtain onward travel instructions from the airline. Deal with damaged-property or expense questions after the immediate safety issue has been resolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
My power bank is hot but not smoking. Should I tell the crew?
Yes, if it is unusually hot or appears to be overheating. Do not wait for smoke or flames before reporting a concern.
Should I take a smoking power bank to a flight attendant?
No. Get their attention and identify its location. Do not pick it up and carry it through the cabin.
What if the smoking device belongs to another passenger?
Alert the crew immediately. You do not need the owner’s permission to report a safety concern.
Can I put the power bank back in my bag once it cools?
Do not resume handling or using it on your own. Let the crew decide how the affected device should be managed.
Does this advice also apply to a smoking phone or laptop?
Yes. Alert the crew immediately about an overheating or smoking electronic device, whether it is a phone, laptop, tablet or portable charger.
Does the IndiGo incident mean all power banks are banned?
No blanket ban can be inferred from a single incident. Carriage, storage and use are separate matters. Check your airline’s current policy before travel.
