A potential in-flight fire triggered an emergency diversion on 27 July 2026 when IndiGo flight 6E 1452, operating the busy Dubai–Mumbai business corridor, detected smoke in its cargo hold. The Airbus A320 neo landed at Rajkot International Airport at 15:27 IST, where all 194 passengers and crew were evacuated via slides without injury. The incident occurred at the height of afternoon peak operations, prompting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to dispatch an inspection team and issue an initial safety bulletin to domestic carriers. Early reports suggest an overheating portable power bank in checked baggage may have generated fumes—a scenario the DGCA has warned against in recent circulars. For global mobility teams routing employees through the Gulf, the diversion underscores the importance of buffer time between connecting domestic sectors and critical meetings. Travellers bound for Mumbai endured a six-hour onward delay as IndiGo ferried a replacement aircraft; hotel accommodation was provided for passengers missing onward connections. The Rajkot airport authority praised the crew’s quick decision, noting that the new international airport—opened in 2025—was equipped with Category II fire services capable of handling wide-body diversions, a boon for Western India’s aviation resilience. While the event is unlikely to dent IndiGo’s market share, it will refocus attention on lithium-battery screening. Several multinational firms have already re-circulated “no power banks in checked bags” advisories to staff following the news.
Source: Outlook India
