The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is considering implementing stricter measures, such as locking carry-on baggage compartments during flights, to ensure passengers evacuate aircraft more quickly during emergencies. This initiative aims to address instances where passengers delay evacuations by attempting to retrieve their belongings.
Larger aircraft are required by the IATA to be evacuated in under 90 seconds. However, valuable time is often lost when passengers do not follow crew instructions and instead try to gather their possessions. A study commissioned by the IATA revealed that 40 percent of passengers are unaware they must leave their belongings behind in an emergency, and 10 percent would still attempt to take their baggage even if instructed otherwise. This behavior has been observed in recent emergency situations, such as a fire on an American Airlines plane at Denver Airport in March.
Nick Careen, IATA's senior vice president of operations, stated that the organization launched the "save a life not a bag" campaign to raise awareness. He indicated that if the campaign proves insufficient, more "draconian" measures may be introduced. These could include "penalties" or "something as simple as a hard locking mechanism on the overhead bin." Careen believes these changes could be implemented with airline support and approval.
Willie Walsh, director general of IATA and former head of British Airways, expressed dismay at images of passengers retrieving bags during evacuations, reiterating the critical importance of leaving all belongings behind to ensure swift departure from the aircraft.