Flight passengers may risk losing access to baggage compartments if they continue to delay an emergency evacuation by retrieving their carry-on baggage.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a new effort under the title “Save a Life, Not a Bag”.
The aim is to remind passengers to leave all luggage behind when an aircraft needs to be evacuated and to walk immediately to the nearest usable emergency exit.
The initiative follows a survey commissioned by IATA, which revealed that four out of ten passengers did not know that they should leave their belongings behind in an emergency.
Then 80% of passengers said they knew how to react in an emergency, but only 61% correctly mentioned that everything should be left on board.
Seconds can make a difference
Nick Careen, head of safety at IATA, says that the first attempt will be to change passenger behavior through education. If this is not enough, harsher measures may be taken, for example fines or the locking of luggage compartments during an emergency evacuation.
“It can put people’s lives at risk if just one or two passengers spend a few seconds reaching for their personal belongings,” Careen said.
IATA also points out that passengers should not use phones to record or take pictures in emergencies, as this can delay evacuation and cause congestion. Passengers are encouraged to pay close attention to security briefings and keep important items such as passports, medicines and money on their person rather than in hand luggage placed in the hold.
