IndiGo flight returns to gate after power bank found in checked baggage

An IndiGo flight traveling from Hyderabad to Srinagar returned to its parking bay on Tuesday after officials discovered a passenger had placed a power bank in checked baggage. The aircraft, carrying 173 passengers, had already pushed back from the bay and was taxiing when the safety violation was identified.

This incident follows a separate emergency landing on October 11 involving an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai. In that instance, smoke from a passenger's electronic device in the cabin forced the pilots to divert the aircraft to Hyderabad. Passengers in the Delhi-Chennai flight reportedly used bags to help suppress flames in the overhead storage area before crew members extinguished the fire with onboard equipment. No injuries were reported in either incident.

Aviation experts and airline policies emphasize that lithium-ion power banks must be carried in hand baggage only to mitigate fire risks caused by potential short circuits or manufacturing defects.