IATA launches a passenger safety campaign

With the support of aviation safety regulatory agencies, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), this campaign reaffirms what passengers should do when ordered to evacuate for their own safety and that of everyone on board: obey the crew’s instructions, leave all your luggage behind, and move quickly to the nearest usable exit.

“Bringing luggage during an evacuation is not a minor matter. Every second counts. Even carrying a single piece of luggage can compromise the safe evacuation of everyone. The crew’s instructions are clear and simple: leave everything behind and move quickly. ‘Save a life, not a suitcase’ is the message passengers need to understand and put into practice,” said Willie Walsh, IATA Director General.

The campaign follows a growing number of cases where passengers stopped to collect their belongings or take photos during an aircraft evacuation. Evidence of this can be seen in the numerous videos posted online.

“Rapid evacuation in an emergency saves lives. Aircraft are subject to strict evacuation standards, and crews receive extensive emergency training to ensure that every passenger has the best possible chance of surviving a serious situation. For this to work in a real emergency, all passengers must play their part. And it’s very simple: follow the crew’s instructions, leave your luggage behind, and quickly make your way to the nearest usable exit. Not only will this save your life, but you will have done your best to help everyone get out of danger,” explains Florian Guillermet, Director General of EASA. Precious seconds should not be wasted retrieving luggage from the overhead compartments. Carrying luggage can cause falls or damage to the slides that all passengers are required to use. Even worse, some passengers have been seen attempting to evacuate while carrying both babies and luggage or other personal belongings, compromising safety during a critical moment.

“We are seeing an increasing number of passengers who do not follow crew instructions during emergencies. In these situations, compliance is critical. Passengers must act quickly, follow instructions without hesitation, and leave all their belongings behind. Safety is a shared responsibility, and informed and attentive passengers help make evacuation faster and safer for everyone on board,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.

Passenger research helps quantify the need for action.

As part of the campaign development, IATA commissioned a survey of recent air travelers in four representative markets (the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore), supported by input from behavioral experts.

The research identified some critical gaps:
• While 80% of respondents said they knew what to do in an emergency evacuation, only 61% correctly stated that they should abandon all their belongings and leave the aircraft.
• 33% said they had seen reports of people taking their luggage during an evacuation. Of these, 22% indicated they would likely do the same.

• Many passengers overestimated the time required for an evacuation. Only 18% know that the aircraft evacuation procedure is designed to a 90-second safety standard, and 38% say it can take three minutes or more.

• One in ten passengers admits they might still grab their luggage during an evacuation, or imitate others who do, even when ordered not to.

• 60% say they would be less likely to grab their luggage if a few small essential items were attached to their person.

“The majority of passengers know what to do in the event of an accident. However, there is a significant lack of knowledge among some travelers, which could lead to disaster. Just one or two passengers taking a few extra seconds to gather personal belongings could endanger lives. That’s why it’s essential to instill good habits in all travelers, such as always paying attention to safety demonstrations and keeping essential items, like passports, money, and medications, on their person. It’s also important that passengers understand the consequences of not listening to crew members. Save a life!”