IndiGo flight to Chennai diverted after a passenger device smoked

An IndiGo flight travelling from Delhi to Chennai was diverted to Hyderabad on Sunday after smoke came from a passenger’s personal electronic device.

The device, which had a lithium-ion battery or was a power bank, was in an overhead bag.

Cabin crew put it in water and brought the situation under control, and the plane landed safely.

Aviation rules in many countries, including India, require passengers to keep such devices where they can see them, so smoke or fire can be spotted quickly.

The incident highlights concerns about battery-powered devices being stored in overhead bins or in bags moved to the aircraft’s baggage hold.

India’s civil aviation ministry is aware of the issue and is working to address it.

IndiGo arranged another aircraft to take passengers on to Chennai and said it was providing refreshments and updates.