Chandigarh, 05 May (H.S.): Panic gripped passengers aboard an

IndiGo flight from Hyderabad to Chandigarh after a passenger’s power bank

reportedly exploded and caught fire shortly after landing at Chandigarh

International Airport on Tuesday, five passengers have minor injuries.

According to airport officials, the incident

occurred when IndiGo flight 6E-108

had safely landed at around 3:29 pm

and was stationary at the airport. The aircraft was carrying 198 passengers, two infants, and six crew members.

Sources said that shortly after landing, a

passenger seated on 39C alerted

the cabin crew after noticing smoke and flames coming from his personal power

bank. Initial reports suggest that the device may have exploded, triggering

panic inside the aircraft.

The cabin crew acted swiftly and used fire

extinguishers to control the flames. However, smoke quickly spread inside the

cabin, prompting the crew to activate emergency protocols. Around 3:35 pm, emergency exits were opened and

passengers were evacuated through inflatable slides.

Ground emergency teams rushed to the spot,

while Air Force fire tenders were also deployed as a precautionary measure.

Officials said the situation was brought under control before it could escalate

further.

Five passengers sustained minor injuries

during the evacuation process and were provided immediate medical attention.

Airport authorities said most of the injured passengers were discharged after

first aid as their condition was stable.

Airport CEO Ajay Verma said that a detailed report from the airline

is still awaited regarding the exact cause of the incident.

In a statement, an IndiGo spokesperson said, “On May 5, while IndiGo flight 6E-108 from

Hyderabad to Chandigarh was stationary after landing, an incident involving a

customer’s personal electronic equipment catching fire was reported.”

The airline added that all passengers were

safely shifted to the terminal and are being assisted by airline staff.

“The aircraft will undergo necessary technical

and safety checks before resuming operations. At IndiGo, the safety of our

customers and crew remains our top priority,” the spokesperson said.

Authorities

are now investigating the exact cause of the power bank malfunction.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH