Power Bank Rules For Flights In India: IndiGo vs Air India — Are Rules Different For Passengers?

An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai had to be diverted mid-air due to an accidental fire caused by a power bank in the overhead bin. But, all airlines be it domestic or international, request all passengers to carry it in hand-carrier and not in checked-in luggage. So what could have caused a sudden outbreak of fire on Airbus A321-251N?

While the fire started due to a malfunctioning power bank on an IndiGo aircraft flying from Delhi to Chennai, which had to be diverted to Hyderabad, and with air travel demand growing among commuters in India, it is crucial to know what can land you and your fellow passengers in trouble because of simple mistakes like charging your phone during take-off, using your power bank to charge a laptop and more, and how different airlines allow different watt-hour (Wh) limits.

From knowing which bag to carry your power bank in to its use mid-air to the kind of power bank allowed on flight, here's everything you should know about carrying power bank on flights.

Just as you'd carrying any electronic items in your hand luggage, a power bank needs to be carried in your hand luggage and needs to pass through security. Power banks are strictly prohibited in checked-in luggage due to the risk of accidental fires in cargo that cannot be immediately attended by the on-flight airline crew.

So, you've acted as an informed passenger and decided to carry your power bank in your cabin luggage instead of checked-in bag. However, you've decided to leave it in your bag in the overhead bin. That is what separates you from a well-informed passenger.

Airlines, both domestic and international, ask passengers to carry power banks in hand baggage. But where you keep them in the cabin matters too. A power bank left in the overhead bin can overheat out of sight and start a fire, as happened on IndiGo flight 6E 6115 from Delhi to Chennai on October 11, 2026. Keep it within reach instead. The same rule applies to lithium-ion batteries.

According to DGCA, one must not store power banks in overhead compartments as they must stay visible or be kept in your seat pocket/under the seat so cabin staff can spot early signs of smoke or overheating.

Moreover, DGCA’s guidelines set two further rules for power banks in the cabin. Do not plug a power bank into the aircraft’s seat power outlet to recharge it. And do not use a power bank to charge any device during the flight, including take-off and landing.

Yes and no. As per the DGCA guidelines, the capacity limits for power banks is defined up to 100Wh only and any power banks between 100Wh and 160Wh may require prior airline approval, while checked luggage carriage is strictly forbidden.

Do note, mAh is a different metric from Wh. Usually, power banks are measured in mAh (milliampere-hours), which represents the total electric charge stored in its internal battery cells and not Wh.

To check whether your power bank is within the limit, convert mAh to Wh: (mAh × V) ÷ 1,000 = Wh. Most power banks use 3.7V cells, so a 20,000 mAh power bank works out to 20,000 × 3.7 ÷ 1,000 = 74 Wh, comfortably under the 100 Wh limit. A 30,000 mAh power bank comes to 111 Wh, which would need airline approval.

While standard capacity allowed remains up to 100 Wh, it is always advised to check the details provided by the airline carrier on their websites to ensure you are not breaking any rules.

While IndiGo, Akasa Air and SpiceJet allow up to 100 Wh and 160 Wh with special permission power bank only in cabin bags to its passengers, Air India permits a maximum of 2 power banks per passenger that's up to 100 Wh.