The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is launching a global information campaign "Save a Life, Not a Bag" aimed at raising passenger awareness of the rules of conduct during an emergency aircraft evacuation.
According to a Report correspondent from Rio de Janeiro, IATA Director General Willie Walsh made the remark at the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the World Air Transport Summit (WATS).
The initiative has been supported by leading global aviation regulators, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The campaign urges passengers to strictly follow crew instructions, not take carry-on baggage, and exit the aircraft through the nearest emergency exit as quickly as possible.
According to Walsh, attempting to retrieve baggage during an evacuation poses a serious safety risk.
"In an emergency, every second counts. Even one bag can slow down the evacuation and endanger the lives of other passengers," he emphasized.
The campaign was launched following an increase in incidents of passengers attempting to retrieve carry-on baggage from overhead bins or filming the evacuation on their mobile phones during emergency evacuations.
Such actions are regularly captured on video and shared on social media.
As part of the campaign, IATA recommends that passengers listen carefully to crew instructions, not take baggage during the evacuation, refrain from taking photos or videos, avoid lingering in the aisles, and exit the aircraft as quickly as possible.
To disseminate these recommendations, special videos and digital materials have been developed for use by airlines, airports, and other industry participants.