Senators push FAA to re-test airplane evacuations and revise seat size regulations

Lawmakers want the FAA to conduct new tests evacuating aircraft in emergency conditions that account for various passenger types and smaller seats.
The FAA's recent tests had limitations that failed to consider carry-on bags, children, seniors, and disabled passengers, according to critics.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth introduced a bill requiring the FAA revise standards around seat sizes and set a deadline to create new rules on evacuations.
Current FAA standards call for evacuating aircraft within 90 seconds but lawmakers argue real-world conditions would make that difficult with current seat sizes.
The FAA has said seat sizes and layouts are issues of comfort, not safety, but critics argue smaller seats could endanger passengers in emergencies.