A new aviation safety campaign is urging travellers to leave their carry-on bags behind during an aircraft evacuation.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently launched its "Save a Life, Not a Bag" campaign, warning that retrieving baggage during an emergency evacuation puts lives at risk.
The campaign comes as IATA-commissioned research found that one in 10 air travellers admitted they may still take baggage with them during an evacuation, or follow others who do, even when instructed not to.
"Taking bags during an evacuation is not a minor issue. Every second matters. Even taking one bag can affect the safe evacuation of everyone onboard. Crew instructions are clear and simple: leave everything behind and move quickly. 'Save a Life, Not a Bag' is a message that passengers need to understand and act upon," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.
According to IATA, there has been a growing number of incidents in which passengers have stopped to retrieve luggage or record videos during aircraft evacuations.
"It is very simple: follow crew instructions, leave all baggage behind and move quickly to the nearest usable exit. Not only this will save your life, but you will have done your very best to allow everyone to get out of danger," said Florian Guillermet, EASA Executive Director.
The survey, conducted among recent air travellers in the U.S. UK, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, revealed several knowledge gaps around emergency evacuations.
While 80% of respondents said they knew what to do during an evacuation, only 61% correctly identified leaving all personal belongings behind as the proper response.
The research also found that 33% of travellers had seen reports of passengers taking baggage during evacuations. Of those respondents, 22% said they would be likely to do the same.
Another finding highlighted widespread misconceptions about evacuation timing.
Aircraft manufacturers and airlines must demonstrate that passengers can evacuate an aircraft within 90 seconds under certification requirements, yet only 18% of respondents were aware of that benchmark.
According to IATA, passengers retrieving bags from overhead bins can block aisles, slow movement toward exits and damage evacuation slides. Bags can also create tripping hazards, become caught on seats and fixtures, or injure other passengers and rescue personnel.
The campaign also encourages travellers to think ahead before takeoff and landing by keeping essential items such as passports, medication and money secured on their person rather than in overhead bins.
IATA says the campaign video was developed with input from behavioural experts and uses humour and exaggerated scenarios to reinforce its safety message.
"The majority of passengers know what to do in an accident. There is, however, a significant gap in knowledge among some travelers that could result in disaster," said Nick Careen, IATA's Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security.
Six Safety Behaviors Every Passenger Should Remember
In the unlikely event of an aircraft evacuation:
- Pay Attention to Crew Instructions: During an emergency, cabin crew are trained to guide passengers to safety. Listening carefully and responding immediately can save valuable time.
- Leave All Baggage Behind: Stopping to retrieve luggage delays everyone behind you. Even a few seconds can make a critical difference during an evacuation.
- Don’t Film or Photograph: Using phones or stopping to record events can create dangerous congestion and distract passengers from evacuating quickly.
- Keep Aisles and Exits Clear: Large bags and carry-ons can obstruct aisles and emergency exits, slowing down the evacuation process for everyone onboard.
- Don’t Take Bags onto Evacuation Slides: Bringing hard or wheeled luggage onto evacuation slides can damage equipment and seriously injure passengers.
- Be Prepared: Keep essential small personal items, such as medication, passports, or keys, secured on your person whenever possible. Preparation helps avoid delays in an emergency.
Topics From This Article to Explore
