On May 5, 2019, an Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet 100 burst into flames during an emergency landing at Moscow–Sheremetyevo airport, tragically resulting in the loss of 41 lives. It is believed that more people could have been saved in this incident if passengers had not taken their bags from the overhead bins during the evacuation. A similar incident occurred on January 2, 2024, at Tokyo Haneda Airport, where a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 caught fire after colliding with a Japanese coast guard DHC-8-300. While 5 people perished in the smaller coast guard plane, all 367 passengers and 12 crew members on board the A350 managed to escape unharmed. How did they achieve this? The crew conducted the evacuation effectively, and crucially, the passengers complied with all instructions, including leaving their bags in the overhead compartments.
We don’t need another incident like this to understand the importance of listening to your flight attendant’s instructions, as they can be lifesaving. We should all learn from this experience. Sometimes, in an aviation emergency, the difference between life and death can hinge on something as simple as a piece of hand carry luggage. Material items can be replaced, but lives cannot.
After a collision with a Coast Guard aircraft, all 379 people on the airliner managed to escape safely. Witnesses captured videos showing passengers sliding down escape chutes from the burning Airbus A350, remarkably leaving their hand luggage behind. This efficient and orderly evacuation has been described as nothing short of a “miracle,” especially considering aviation safety agencies’ long-standing warnings about the risks of gathering carry-on baggage during emergencies.
A Historical Priority in Aviation Safety
The critical importance of rapid aircraft evacuation isn’t a new concept in aviation safety. Tracing back to the 1980s, it became a key safety priority following the devastating 1985 British Airtours Boeing 737 fire at Manchester airport. This tragedy, which claimed 55 lives, was mainly due to smoke inhalation exacerbated by delays in opening doors and limited access to emergency exits. Since then, significant progress has been made in evacuation procedures, including enhancements to door mechanisms and emergency lighting systems.
Despite improvements in evacuation protocols, new challenges have surfaced, primarily due to the increasing amount of luggage passengers carry onboard. A 2000 U.S. safety study highlighted that airliner evacuations occur every 11 days on average. While not all these events make headlines, they often prompt further improvements in safety measures. However, convincing passengers to leave their belongings behind during evacuations remains a challenge, despite air crash investigators advocating for stronger in-flight briefings.
Recent Incidents Highlighting Evacuation Challenges
In 2016, a situation unfolded on an Emirates jet in Dubai, where passengers, despite the cabin filling with smoke, blocked aisles to retrieve bags. Nevertheless, the cabin crew’s effective response led to the safe evacuation of all 300 people on board. Following this incident, the Royal Aeronautical Society in 2018 recommended the automatic locking of overhead bins after crash landings to prevent passengers from accessing their luggage during emergencies.
Steve Creamer, a seasoned aviation safety consultant and former senior director at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), reflected on the recent Tokyo crash. He noted the clear advantage of not carrying baggage during evacuation, emphasizing the remarkable work of the flight crew and disciplined action by passengers. “It’s pretty remarkable that they got everybody off the airplane,” he commented, underscoring the collective effort in ensuring everyone’s safety.
The successful evacuation at Haneda Airport serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to safety protocols during aviation emergencies. It highlights how the disciplined actions of both crew and passengers can lead to safe outcomes, even in the most perilous situations. There is no need for another situation like this for us to learn. We can all learn from this incident. Leave your bags in the event of an emergency evacuation. Material items can be replaced, lives can’t.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
