Aircraft overhead luggage compartments could be locked during flights as passengers are putting lives at risk while retrieving their belongings, industry experts have warned.
“Save a life, not a bag”, a passenger safety campaign by the International Air Transport Association (Iata) that is urging travellers to leave cabin baggage behind during an aircraft evacuation.
The campaign, which was launched at Iata’s annual meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, follows social media videos of passengers stopping to film and carrying suitcases during an aviation emergency.
Nick Careen, the Iata senior vice-president for operations and security, warned that fines could be implemented or luggage bins automatically locked if the educational campaign is ineffective, according to The Guardian.
Iata said: “Taking baggage during an evacuation can slow movement through the cabin, block aisles and exits, prevent passengers from using their hands, and injure others.
“Bags can also puncture evacuation slides, obscure exit path lighting, become caught on seats or fixtures, and create hazards for crew and rescue personnel outside the aircraft.”
The campaign reminds passengers to think ahead by keeping essential items such as a passport, money, and medication secure on their person before take-off and landing.
It says passengers should pay attention to the crew, leave all baggage behind, not film or photograph, keep moving and exit quickly.
An Iata survey of air passengers recently found that only 61 per cent of people correctly answered that they should leave all personal items and exit the aircraft.
Of the 33 per cent who said that they had seen reports of people taking their baggage during an evacuation, 22 per cent also indicated that they would likely to do the same.
Aircraft are generally required to be fully evacuated in 90 seconds or less, with only half of the exits usable during an emergency.
Retrieving baggage from overhead bins can lose “valuable seconds” in an emergency, said the campaign.
Mr Careen said: “The majority of passengers know what to do in an accident. There is, however, a significant gap in knowledge among some travellers that could result in disaster. Even just a passenger or two taking a few extra seconds to gather personal items can endanger lives.”
He added: “Save a Life, Not a Bag is meant to be a blunt reminder of what is at stake for everyone in the rare event of an evacuation.”
The baggage campaign has been supported by both the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“It is very simple: follow crew instructions, leave all baggage behind and move quickly to the nearest usable exit. Not only will this 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.
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