Fire Incident on IndiGo Flight: DGCA Bans Power Banks on Aircraft
The restriction applies to all forms of carriage, including passenger cabin baggage, checked-in baggage, and cargo shipments.
Following a fire incident on an IndiGo flight operating from Delhi to Chennai, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has banned the carriage of the ‘Mobikins MK-PB-04’ power bank model on all flights arriving in India, departing from the country, and operating within India.
The restriction applies to all forms of carriage, including passenger cabin baggage, checked-in baggage, and cargo shipments. Airlines have been instructed to ensure that passengers do not carry this specific power bank model onboard aircraft.
However, the order applies only to the particular Mobikins power bank model and does not cover all power banks. The DGCA issued the directive on September 29 following an incident on October 11, when a passenger’s power bank suddenly caught fire inside the overhead baggage compartment of an IndiGo flight travelling from Delhi to Chennai.
The aircraft was diverted and made an emergency landing in Hyderabad as a precautionary measure. Although no casualties were reported, the aircraft was grounded for safety inspections. Passengers were provided with alternative arrangements and were later flown to Chennai.
Considering the seriousness of the incident, Nepal Airlines has also banned the use of this specific Mobikins power bank model on flights operating between India and Nepal. Aviation experts have raised concerns over the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, which can pose fire hazards when overheated or affected by short circuits.
They have called for stricter inspections of portable battery devices under the mandatory registration schemes of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Passengers have been advised to check the model numbers of their electronic devices before travelling and strictly follow aviation safety guidelines to avoid any risks during air travel.
