IndiGo Delhi-Chennai Flight Diverts to Hyderabad After Smoke from Passenger Device

An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai diverted to Hyderabad on Sunday, October 11, 2026, after smoke was detected from a passenger's personal electronic device in an overhead bin. The aircraft landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Cabin crew brought the situation under control before the diversion.

Flight 6E 6115, operated by an Airbus A321neo registered VT-NOE, left Delhi around 1:30 p.m. local time. IndiGo said the cabin crew responded promptly. Pilots followed standard protocols and diverted to the nearest suitable airport. An alternative aircraft was arranged to take the roughly 180 passengers and seven crew members onward to Chennai.

The airline's statement described the source as a customer's personal electronic device. Some passenger accounts and videos indicated a power bank or similar portable charger emitting smoke or an orange glow inside the compartment. Passengers were seen pressing bags against the area. IndiGo later said the incident involved smoke rather than an open fire. No injuries were reported.

The four-month-old aircraft is powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines. Flight tracking data confirmed the diversion and safe landing in Hyderabad. The scheduled arrival in Chennai had been around 4 p.m. The airline offered refreshments and updates to affected passengers and said safety remained its priority.

Incidents involving lithium batteries in personal devices have prompted tighter rules on power banks and similar items in aircraft cabins worldwide. Airlines require such devices to be carried in the cabin rather than checked luggage and restrict their use during certain phases of flight. Overhead bins are a common location for them, which can complicate access if smoke or heat develops.

Indian aviation authorities and the airline will review the incident. IndiGo has not released further technical details on the device or the exact sequence inside the cabin. The safe landing and quick crew response prevented escalation. For passengers, the diversion added hours to the journey but ended without injury.

The event occurred on the same day as other transport disruptions in India, including security measures around protests in Delhi. It underscores the continuing attention airlines give to electronic devices after multiple global incidents involving battery fires or smoke in cabins. IndiGo's handling followed established emergency procedures, and the replacement aircraft completed the trip to Chennai.