A fire erupted from a bag near row 16 on IndiGo Flight 6E 6115, filling the cabin with smoke at 2:50 p.m. Passengers, including IT professional Gaurav Mishra, rushed to douse the flames while the aircraft remained 15,000 feet above the ground.
The cabin crew’s response was hampered when the first crew member who carried the fire extinguisher could not operate it. Mishra said a colleague had to intervene, and video footage captured passengers attempting to put out the fire before the crew could act.
The aircraft diverted to Hyderabad at 3:20 p.m., where it was inspected and cleared for a safe landing. Passengers were rebooked onto another flight later that evening, and no injuries were reported.
IndiGo released a statement saying the pilots followed established safety protocols and that the aircraft landed safely. The airline apologized for the inconvenience and emphasized its commitment to passenger safety.
Mishra described the terror felt by children and elderly passengers, noting that the smoke spread quickly and that the crew’s delayed action left the cabin in chaos. He added that the incident left a lasting impression on the crew and passengers alike.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will investigate the incident, examining crew training and equipment readiness. The findings will be released within 30 days and could prompt regulatory action.