Chandigarh, May 5: A minor explosion in a passenger’s carry-on luggage led to the emergency evacuation of an IndiGo flight at Chandigarh airport today. The aircraft, carrying 204 individuals, was swamped with smoke shortly after landing, prompting the crew to deploy emergency sliders at Bay 1 to move passengers to safety.
The crisis was first identified by a traveler in seat 39C, who alerted the cabin crew to a fire in a nearby bag. Despite the crew’s immediate use of fire extinguishers, smoke quickly filled the cabin interior. This led to the decision to open emergency gates and facilitate a rapid exit for the 198 passengers and six crew members.
Airport officials stated that the explosion was caused by a power bank located in a bag in the 39A seating area. During the high-pressure evacuation, one woman reportedly suffered an ankle injury, though no other casualties were noted. Emergency response teams, including Air Force fire services, reached the tarmac within minutes of the alarm.
IndiGo Airlines confirmed that its personnel adhered to established emergency protocols throughout the event. Officials affirmed that the aircraft was safely cleared and the situation was brought under control without further escalation. Airport CEO Ajay Verma maintained that the facility is currently awaiting a comprehensive breakdown of the event from the airline’s technical team.
