The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new Safety Alert to airlines, emphasizing the critical danger posed by passengers retrieving carry-on bags during emergency evacuations. This practice significantly delays the exit process and can reduce the chances of survival in time-sensitive situations involving smoke, fire, or structural damage. The agency urges airlines to update their safety procedures and passenger briefings with clear, consistent messages: all personal items must be left behind without exception.
Key Takeaways
- FAA warns that taking carry-on bags delays evacuations.
- Delays can compromise survival in critical emergencies.
- Airlines are advised to update safety videos with clear instructions.
- Selfies during evacuation also pose a significant risk.
- Entertaining safety videos may reduce recall of vital information.
The Risk of Delayed Evacuations
Aircraft evacuations demand speed. Every second is crucial, particularly when smoke or fire is present. Passengers stopping to collect their belongings from overhead bins or under seats can create bottlenecks. This slows down the entire evacuation flow, putting everyone on board at greater risk.
The FAA's Safety Alert highlights that such delays can directly affect "survivability during time-critical emergencies." The agency's concern is not new; observations from past incidents consistently show passengers prioritizing their bags over a swift exit.
Evacuation Facts
- A standard aircraft evacuation should ideally be completed within 90 seconds.
- Any object, including bags, can puncture an emergency slide, rendering it unusable.
- Smoke inhalation is a major threat in aircraft fires, making rapid exit vital.
Examples of Passenger Behavior
Videos from various emergency landings illustrate the problem. In one instance, after an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) failure caused smoke in the cabin of a Laser Airlines MD-80, passengers were seen exiting with their carry-on luggage. One video showed a passenger sliding down an emergency chute while holding a rollaboard bag, then tumbling across the tarmac.
"Following an APU failure aboard a @laserairlines MD-80, passengers were evacuated due to smoke in the cabin. Regrettably, most passengers exited with their carry-on luggage, resulting in avoidable hazards."
— Enrique Perrella, April 29, 2024
Such actions not only endanger the individual but also create obstacles for others trying to escape.
Selfies and Social Media: A New Hazard
While carry-on bags are a clear concern, another emerging issue is passengers stopping to take selfies or record videos during an evacuation. This behavior is increasingly common and can be even more disruptive than retrieving a bag.
Stopping to pose for a photograph or film a personal video directly in the aisle blocks the path for dozens of people behind. This self-serving action can add precious seconds or even minutes to an evacuation, potentially leading to serious consequences for those waiting.
The Selfie Culture Impact
The widespread use of smartphones and social media has normalized documenting personal experiences, even during emergencies. This trend often clashes with the urgent need for quick and orderly evacuation, creating a new challenge for flight safety.
For example, a video from a Red Air flight 203 evacuation, following a landing gear collapse and fire, showed passengers filming their exit. Some held a carry-on bag in one hand and a drink in the other, while others filmed themselves descending the emergency chute. This indicates a significant lapse in understanding or adherence to safety protocols.
Effectiveness of Safety Videos
The FAA recommends that airlines update their safety videos with clear instructions to leave all belongings behind. However, research suggests that the effectiveness of these videos in changing passenger behavior might be limited.
Passengers may worry about losing valuable items permanently if they leave them behind. They might also assume that an emergency will not directly impact them, or that retrieving their bag will not cause harm to others.
The Problem with Engaging Content
Studies indicate that while entertaining or creative safety videos can capture attention, they often reduce the retention of crucial safety information. Researchers from Penn State and UNSW have explored this phenomenon:
- A 2025 study by Penn State/Gong, Pan et al., involving 214 participants, found that videos with tourism or destination-marketing content improved viewer impressions but resulted in approximately 11% lower recall of safety protocols compared to videos without such content. Participants averaged only 2 out of 5 correct answers on basic safety questions immediately after watching.
- A 2015 study by Molesworth et al. at UNSW, with 82 participants, showed that humorous or movie-themed safety videos improved mood and engagement but led to lower recall of safety information. Recall for a standard video was around 53%, movie-themed was about 47%, and humorous was only about 35%.
These findings suggest that complex visuals, music, and narratives can distract from the core safety message. Simplicity and directness appear more effective for retention.
Potential for Immersive Formats
Conversely, some research suggests that immersive formats, such as virtual reality (VR) or serious games, might offer a better balance between engagement and retention. A 2015 study by Chittaro & Buttussi compared a VR simulation of an aircraft emergency with a standard safety card.
The immersive serious game led to better knowledge retention, both immediately and a week later. It also proved more engaging and triggered a stronger emotional response, which seemed to aid memory. This indicates that an "experience" rather than passive watching could be more impactful.
Proposed Solutions and Challenges
Beyond updated safety videos, the FAA has explored other measures. These include the possibility of locking overhead bins and eliminating checked bag fees to reduce the number of carry-on items in the cabin.
Locking Overhead Bins
The idea of locking overhead bins presents its own set of challenges. While it would prevent passengers from accessing their bags, it could also cause new delays.
- Passengers might still attempt to open locked bins, creating confusion and slowing down the aisle.
- Many personal items, like small bags or purses, are stored under seats and would still be accessible.
- Some argue that locking bins could lead to increased panic if passengers cannot retrieve essential items.
The practicality of such a measure during a high-stress evacuation is questionable, as passengers might not recall the bins are locked even if previously informed.
Financial Incentives and Penalties
Some suggest financial penalties, such as a substantial fine for anyone taking bags or selfies during an evacuation. Others propose a lifetime ban from flying for those who violate emergency rules. These ideas aim to create a stronger deterrent.
However, the primary concern for airlines is often safety, not necessarily the enforcement of fines in a chaotic emergency. The focus remains on preventing behavior that can endanger lives.
Actual Risk vs. Perceived Risk
Despite the clear dangers, official accident reports have not directly attributed fatalities to delays caused by carry-on baggage retrieval. For example, the NTSB report on American Airlines Flight 383 in 2016 stated that the "NTSB has not identified any accident evacuations in which delays related to carry-on baggage caused injuries."
This does not diminish the risk. Safety experts consistently warn that these delays could cause more deaths if circumstances were slightly different. The issue is a recognized hazard that requires ongoing attention and solutions.
While passengers retrieving bags or taking selfies during an emergency evacuation is a significant concern, it is one among many aviation safety risks. Other issues, such as air traffic control close calls, also demand considerable focus from regulatory bodies.
