Overview

• The Sept. 19 Safety Alert for Operators asks U.S. carriers to re-evaluate evacuation procedures, crew training, announcements and commands to make clear that all carry-on items must be left behind.
• The FAA warns that retrieving luggage slows evacuations, can damage inflatable slides and has been linked to delayed egress, higher injury rates and compromised survivability in time-critical emergencies.
• Airlines are urged to use concise, standardized briefings with no exceptions, including appeals to collective responsibility such as “Help everyone get out safely—leave your bags” and the norm that “everyone leaves bags behind.”
• The alert recommends passenger outreach, signage and education campaigns, and leveraging Safety Management Systems to identify and mitigate risks related to carry-on retrieval during evacuations.
• The guidance follows widely viewed incidents, including July’s American Airlines evacuation in Denver and a February regional-jet crash in Toronto where passengers exited with luggage, and it does not change regulations.