The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reminding air travelers to prioritize safety over possessions during emergency evacuations, urging them to "Save a life not a bag." The agency has released public service announcements highlighting dangerous passenger behavior, specifically the habit of trying to retrieve carry-on luggage during evacuations.
The FAA's campaign, which includes a video PSA that has garnered significant attention online, showcases incidents where passengers were seen exiting aircraft with their bags, and in some cases, using emergency slides while still holding their belongings. This practice can obstruct aisles, damage evacuation equipment, and critically slow down the evacuation process for everyone on board.
According to FAA guidelines, bringing carry-on bags or stopping to gather personal items can delay departures and put others at risk. The agency noted that over 40 injuries have been reported during emergency evacuations since the beginning of 2023. Other behaviors discouraged during evacuations include pushing, pausing to record video, or wearing high heels, which can damage evacuation slides.
The "Save a Life, Not a Bag" initiative is also supported by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which launched a similar campaign in June to address the increasing trend of passengers bringing luggage during emergency deplanings. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford has stated that the agency is observing a rise in passengers not following crew instructions during emergencies.
Flight attendants emphasize the urgency of evacuations, noting that passengers typically have as little as 90 seconds to exit an aircraft. Even if retrieving a bag seems to take only a few seconds, the cumulative effect of multiple passengers doing so can prove fatal. In August 2025, for example, 173 passengers and crew evacuated an American Airlines plane that caught fire during takeoff, with footage showing some individuals carrying their roller bags.
