The 1 Potentially Deadly Mistake People Make During An Emergency Landing, According To Flight Attendants

Whether you travel for business or leisure, you’ve inevitably seen and heard the safety announcements ahead of departure. The information typically highlights what to do in the event of rough air, a change in cabin pressure or an emergency landing. While most people don’t like to think about the possibility of emergency landings, it’s important to know how to deal with one should it happen to you.Last week, a video showed passengers on an American Airlines flight evacuating during an emergency landing in Denver after a problem occurred with a wheel. The video shows people going down the inflatable slide and quickly rushing off the aircraft, many of them holding their carry-on luggage. So that got us wondering one very important question — shouldn’t you leave all that behind?Ahead, we spoke with flight attendants about emergency landings, and they highlighted one potentially deadly mistake that often happens that could cost you or other passengers their lives. Let it go, let it go As seen in last week’s viral video, a majority of the passengers who evacuated took some of their belongings with them, whether it was carry-on luggage or a backpack. Although you might think grabbing those items is a good idea, in the grand scheme of things, it could actually cost you or someone their life during an emergency landing. ″Every second counts during an evacuation, especially when it’s a critical event like smoke in the cabin,” said Valerie Fraser, an inflight crew member for JetBlue. “Even if it takes what feels like to you 5 seconds to grab a bag, that could be 5 seconds needed to save a life behind you.” In the event of an emergency, prioritize getting out of the vehicle safely — and leave your items behind.In fact, there have actually been instances in the past where customers on board actually died because the evacuation wasn’t done quickly enough, according to Fraser. “There’s a reason why we make announcements during the safety demo to leave everything behind in the event of an emergency,” she said. Aside from delaying the evacuation time, grabbing items from a plane before going off can also pose other hazards on board and to the safety equipment, including the inflatable slides.“Bags can block the aisles, damage the slides or even trip someone,” said Andy L., a flight attendant who has been working domestic flights for one year (he asked to change his name for privacy reasons related to his job). “It just adds chaos in a moment where every second matters, and the focus needs to be on getting everyone out quickly and safely.” For example, in the video from the American Airlines flight, there was a man carrying a child in one hand and luggage in the other. He lost his balance and fell on top of the child, demonstrating an instance that could have been prevented if he’d had his other hand free. When should you take your bag? The short answer is never. Your belongings are replaceable, but your life and that of other passengers on board are not. It might seem tempting to grab a small bag or luggage quickly, perhaps if it has your phone, wallet or medications, but all of those items can be replaced even if it may be inconvenient or expensive. ″Medical personnel are called right away, so they will have any medical supplies you might need in the immediate future,” Fraser said. “All other belongings would be returned to their rightful owners by the airline as well.”The only real exception would be if you brought a pet on board, and in that instance, you would want to take them with you when you evacuate. How long do you have to evacuate a plane?According to Cora C., a flight attendant who has been working on domestic flights for the past seven years and who asked to remain anonymous for privacy reasons, flight attendants are trained to evacuate everyone off a plane, including themselves, in 90 seconds or less. “In events like fires, that 90 seconds is the time it can take for the entire plane to become engulfed,” Cora said. “Our goal is always to get everyone off safely and quickly, and not following our commands, which always include ‘LEAVE EVERYTHING,’ prevents us from doing that.″The 90-second rule for aircraft evacuation accounts for a plane that is full and has half the number of emergency exits in operation. In theory, the process could be quicker if all of the emergency exits are available, but that may not always be the case.Can you be fined for not following the rules?According to Andy, the FAA can fine passengers who don’t follow safety instructions during an evacuation, like trying to take their bags or not listening to the crew. “It’s not just a suggestion, it’s a real rule, and it’s in place to keep everyone safe,” he said. This isn’t something that happens often. However, the flight attendants said they wouldn’t be opposed to seeing it if it would incentivise people to follow instructions properly during an emergency landing. At the end of the day, Fraser said, an emergency evacuation is usually done as a safety precaution and is not life-threatening. That said, it is still important to act swiftly and efficiently because there is a situation at hand that could escalate quickly. ″The best thing you can do is stay calm, listen to the crew and move fast,” Andy said. “We’re trained for this, and we’re there to guide you every step of the way.”Related...Flying With An Unruly Passenger? Here's What Flight Attendants Are (And Aren't) Empowered To DoThese Are The Rudest Things You Can Do On A Flight, Expert SaysThese 7 Packing Mistakes Are Why Travellers Miss Flights

Comments

Breaking news

Virgin Atlantic passenger jailed after threatening to ‘gang rape stewardess and set her alight’

Metro

Oklahoma House speaker blames ‘bizarre accident’ for explicit images on Superintendent’s office TV during private meeting

about 1 hour ago

Calls to Social Security may be rerouted to other field offices that have no jurisdiction over person’s case

Independent

Ruby Franke’s ex files medical malpractice suit against convicted child abuser Jodi Hildebrandt for her ‘therapy’ services

about 3 hours ago

MLB is calling up its first female umpire, promoting Jen Pawol for Saturday's Marlins-Braves game

Independent

Comments

Breaking news

Virgin Atlantic passenger jailed after threatening to ‘gang rape stewardess and set her alight’

‘Deeply-loved’ father-of-one shot dead as he closed coffee shop in east London

Shepherd finds body of man missing for 28 years in melting glacier

The UN says Rwanda-backed rebels killed over 300 civilians in Congo in the past month

Trump hails ‘great progress’ in Putin talks – but no sign of end to Ukraine war

About 300 migrants start walking north in southern Mexico, but goal is not US border

Blind man walks 7 miles a day handing out flyers to find his stolen service dog: ‘Bam Bam means the world to me’

‘Apocalyptic’ pictures of Gaza’s devastation echo the destruction of the Hiroshima bomb 80 years on

What to know about mRNA vaccines

Woman given terminal diagnosis says she plans to fulfil her life dream

Helicopter crash in Ghana kills 8 people including defense and environment ministers

Trump team looking to Joe Rogan for help amid lingering Epstein-Ghislaine Maxwell fallout, report says: Live updates

Who is the solider accused of a mass shooting at Fort Stewart Army base in Georgia?

Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar defends rap group Kneecap: ‘Everybody got too heated about them’

Claire's, known for piercing millions of teens' ears, files for Chapter 11, 2nd time since 2018

A far-right ‘1st Amendment’ group lost its defamation lawsuit. Now the New York Times is suing them back

‘Weapons’ spins small town into chaos that mirrors real life, humor and all

Boyfriend charged with killing police officer in their Maryland home nearly 30 years ago

Military base shootings have ranged from isolated incidents to workplace violence and terrorism

Gordon Brown backs gambling tax reform to tackle child poverty

Oklahoma House speaker blames ‘bizarre accident’ for explicit images on Superintendent’s office TV during private meeting

Calls to Social Security may be rerouted to other field offices that have no jurisdiction over person’s case

Tax gambling industry more to lift 500,000 children out of poverty, government urged

ICE wants to target Gen Z in PR blitz including ads on YouTube, HBO and X to fill 14,000 roles

Laura Loomer says a friend calls her ‘Trump’s Rasputin’ as her surprising influence grows in White House

US is auctioning $325M Russian superyacht Amadea, which boasts 8 state rooms, helipad, gym and spa

Is Labour Preparing Brits For A Tax Shock This Autumn?

The 1 Potentially Deadly Mistake People Make During An Emergency Landing, According To Flight Attendants

I Helped Free A Man Who Was Trapped In His Car For 3 Days. I Don't Think I've Recovered From What Happened Next.

Five soldiers shot at US Army base

Family seek answers after ‘unforgettable’ musician found dead at bottom of bat cave

Coinplex — The Power of Technology and Responsibility Together

Indiana announces a ‘Speedway Slammer’ to house migrants and become the Hoosier state’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

Trump and Apple’s $600B announcement could be the cost-saving tariff lifeline iPhone addicts are craving

Emmylou Harris and Brad Paisley are headed for Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

Homeland Security removes age limits for ICE recruits to boost hiring for Trump deportations

How a 41-minute flight closed one of the UK’s busiest airports

Millionaire US businessman gored to death by buffalo during South African hunting trip

Starmer defends plans to recognise Palestine as a state but hits out at Hamas

MAGA die-hard Marsha Blackburn is running for Tennessee governor

80 years after the atomic bomb: A photo gallery from Hiroshima

Trump administration tried to reopen deportation proceedings for man who was long dead: ‘They’re very negligent’

Mental health ward ‘severely short-staffed’ on day suicidal teenager self-harmed, inquest told

Wild pigs with ‘bright blue’ flesh are again showing up around California and causing concern

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump speaks to Zelensky as US to decide on Russia sanctions today

The Latest: Putin hosts Trump envoy Witkoff for crucial talks on Ukraine peace deal

Ghislaine Maxwell got ‘special preference’ with move to Texas Club Fed that no other inmate gets, experts say

Zoo welcomes four new rare Barbary lion cubs whose population is extinct outside of protection

Blue chips in favour ahead of likely Bank of England interest rates cut

Hegseth announces return of Confederate statue that whitewashes slavery to Arlington Cemetery: ‘We honor it’

5 soldiers shot at Army's Fort Stewart in Georgia, base reports

What risk does chikungunya pose to the UK after virus outbreak in China?

Ruby Franke’s ex files medical malpractice suit against convicted child abuser Jodi Hildebrandt for her ‘therapy’ services

MLB is calling up its first female umpire, promoting Jen Pawol for Saturday's Marlins-Braves game

Five soldiers shot at Fort Stewart Army base in Georgia: Officials say no active threat

Bomb threat forces Texas redistrict-fighting Democrats to flee again — this time from Illinois hotel

Fort Stewart shooting updates: Five soldiers shot at Georgia army base as gunman in custody

Image released of man after early hours assault in Scots city centre

Mum and daughter fly 10,000 miles for Edinburgh Tattoo only to be left heartbroken

Brad Pitt's mum dies aged 84 as actor's niece pays tribute to sweet 'grammy'