The US Federal Aviation Administration is warning airlines to keep imposing strict safety protocols during emergency evacuations.
The notice issued last week comes as passengers continually jeopardize speedy evacuations by insisting on getting their bags from the overhead bins.
The FAA says this is a recurring hazard for safe evacuations.
Even a very brief delay can reduce the chance of survival such as when it involves fire and smoke in the cabin.
Passengers attempting to retrieve their bags inevitably cause an obstruction in the aisle. Passengers carrying bags can also damage emergency slides as well as unnecessarily injuring themselves.
The agency cited a aircraft fire in Russia in 2019 which claimed dozens of lives.
The evacuation of a British Airlines flight due to an engine fire in Las Vegas in 2015 took far longer due to non-compliant passengers scrambling for their bags.
The FAA is emphasizing the “leave everything behind” policy for all emergency evacuations.
