NEW DELHI: Panic briefly gripped passengers aboard a Dimapur-bound IndiGo flight on Sunday when a passenger’s power bank caught fire while the aircraft was taxiing at the Delhi airport. The crew acted promptly, extinguishing the blaze within seconds, according to news agency PTI sources. IndiGo confirmed that no injuries were reported, and all passengers and crew were safe.
In its official statement, the airline said flight 6E 2107, operating from Delhi to Dimapur, “returned to bay due to a minor fire triggered by a passenger’s personal electronic equipment stored in the seat-back pocket on board.” Sources said the incident occurred when the aircraft was preparing for take-off.
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“The crew managed the situation quickly by diligently following the standard operating procedure, and the incident was controlled within seconds,” IndiGo said. According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.com, the Airbus A320 neo aircraft — listed as AI2107 — departed Delhi at 14:33 hours and landed in Dimapur at 16:45 hours, after a delay from its scheduled 12:25 hours departure. IndiGo added that “relevant authorities were informed immediately in line with the set protocol” and that the aircraft was cleared for operations after necessary checks. “We thank our valued customers for remaining calm and cooperative during this incident. Our teams made all possible efforts to minimise inconvenience to passengers, including offering them refreshments,” the airline said. Details regarding the number of passengers onboard were not immediately available. The incident comes just days after a similar scare aboard an Air China flight from Hangzhou to Seoul, where a lithium battery stored in the overhead compartment caught fire mid-boarding, reports said.(With agency inputs)
