Power bank fire forces emergency landing on IndiGo flight

An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai was forced to make an emergency landing in Hyderabad after a passenger's power bank caught fire in an overhead bin. Cabin crew successfully extinguished the flames, and no injuries were reported among the 180 passengers and seven crew members. The incident has renewed focus on aviation safety regulations regarding lithium-ion batteries. IndiGo's policy strictly prohibits storing power banks in overhead compartments or checked luggage, requiring them to be kept on one's person or under the seat. Aviation authorities, including the FAA and ICAO, maintain similar guidelines to prevent thermal runaway, a dangerous overheating process common in damaged or defective lithium-ion cells. This event follows a series of industry-wide concerns regarding battery safety, including recent large-scale recalls of popular power bank models. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.