The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a campaign urging passengers to leave cabin baggage behind in the event of an evacuation.
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A recent poll of travellers in the US, UK, UAE and Singapore has shown that while 80% of those surveyed said they knew what to do in an emergency, only 61% correctly said they should leave all personal items and exit the aircraft.
One in 10 passengers admitted they might still take baggage during an evacuation, even when instructed not to.
Speaking at the IATA annual meeting in Rio de Janeiro, IATA’s senior vice-president for operations, safety and security Nick Careen said that the IATA would “start with education”, but may be forced to take more draconian measures, “whether it be penalties or a lock on the overhead bin”, reports The Guardian.
The “Save a Life, Not a Bag” campaign aims to reinforce instructions around what to do in the rare event of an aircraft evacuation: follow crew instructions, leave all baggage behind, and move quickly to the nearest usable exit.
The campaign was launched in response to a number of recent cases where passengers have stopped to collect baggage or take photos during an evacuation.
“Taking bags during an evacuation is not a minor issue. Every second matters,” Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, said.
“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.”
The IATA notes that aside from wasting time, bags can cause people to fall or damage the slides passengers need to use.
The campaign also encourages passengers to keep essentials such as their passport, money, and medication secure on their person before take-off and landing.
Of those polled, 60% said they would be less likely to take baggage if these essential small items were already on their person.