Why Do Passengers Grab Bags During Emergency Evacuations? Airlines Launch Study.

The global commercial aviation industry is launching a major new initiative to address a persistent and dangerous safety issue: passengers retrieving carry-on luggage during an emergency aircraft evacuation. This behavior directly undermines established safety procedures. It risks the lives of all people onboard. The industry seeks to understand the psychology behind this critical passenger bag retrieval risk.

The Critical 90-Second Evacuation Rule

Aircraft manufacturers must prove that a fully loaded plane can be evacuated quickly. This is a core requirement for certification by regulators like the FAA and EASA. The standard requires a complete evacuation in just 90 seconds. This test must be completed using only half of the available emergency exits. This is known as the 90-second evacuation rule. The rule is based on research from the 1960s. This research found that a structurally sound cabin remains survivable for about two minutes before a dangerous flashover condition occurs.

Impact on Evacuation Time

Passenger behavior is the variable not fully accounted for in certification tests. Retrieving overhead locker items significantly slows the process. Computer modeling studies confirm the danger. For example, a simulation using an Airbus A380 model showed alarming results. If 50% of passengers attempt to retrieve their luggage, median evacuation times increase by about 38%. This delay can push the total time well past the 90-second standard, sometimes exceeding 140 seconds. Such an evacuation delay can be fatal in a fire or smoke event. Bags also block aisles and can damage inflatable emergency slides.

Understanding Passenger Bag Retrieval Risk

Multiple studies have explored the reasons for this dangerous aviation passenger behavior. A 2018 study commissioned by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) highlighted the issue. It found that many people would still try to retrieve bags even if they perceived an immediate risk to their safety.

Key factors driving the cabin baggage emergency risk include:

• An instinctive reaction to protect personal property.
• A lack of trust in airlines to return belongings (cited by roughly half of respondents).
• The desire to avoid the “hassle” of replacing passports, medication, or work materials.
• A belief that personal belongings are “too valuable” to leave behind.

Regulatory and Industry Response

The frequency of this issue has led to strong regulatory action. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) in September 2025. The SAFO urged airlines to take steps to discourage passengers from taking bags. It noted that collecting bags contributes to “compromised survivability” during time-critical emergencies. The FAA suggested that airlines adopt standardized, concise messaging.

This follows recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB called for action after incidents like the 2016 American Airlines Boeing 767 fire evacuation. The 2019 Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet 100 fire, which resulted in 41 fatalities, is also cited as a tragic example. Reports suggest passenger bag retrieval may have significantly slowed that evacuation.

In response, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is launching a major public safety campaign. This initiative is set to roll out in 2026. The campaign will focus on educating passengers about the dangers of carry-on retrieval.

Potential future solutions being studied by the industry include:

• Engineering solutions: Developing systems to remotely lock overhead bins during an emergency.
• Economic incentives: Eliminating checked bag fees to reduce the number of carry-on items in the cabin.
• Improved training: Enhancing cabin crew training to manage this specific passenger behavior.

Stakeholders agree that addressing this human factors issue is vital for improving overall cabin safety. This ongoing work is a key topic in commercial aviation news and safety analysis.