To think that these passengers should have criminal charges brought

[HuntIdeas]

After the tragedy of the Aeroflot flight where 41 people died, it sounds like other passengers stopping to get bags out of overhead lockers might have delayed the evacuation and caused some of the deaths!

AIBU to think that the passengers who deliberately took the time to stop and get bags out of overhead lockers, delaying evacuation of passengers behind while the aircraft was on fire, should have criminal charges brought? They directly caused some deaths!

Obviously, in reality it would be difficult to prove who caused what. However, just talking about bringing charges and making it a criminal offence to retrieve baggage in emergency situations would maybe stop other passengers from doing it next time

If overhead lockers were automatically locked, you would just have passengers stuffing as many possessions as they could in the seat pockets and under the seats. And they would still try to retrieve these in an emergency. So while it seems a good suggestion, I don’t see it working.

They tell you to take your shoes off, uttung your bag down to undo laces = trip hazard for others.

Only high heeled shoes if I recall correctly? In case they tear the chute.

@backinthebox

Each time you are a passenger you have a choice as to how much stuff you take, how you pack it and how you transport it. It's not someone else's fault if a passenger chooses to take their whole luggage into the cabin then tries to retrieve it in a fire

True, but when taking a suitcase in the cabin is included in the ticket and putting it in the hold is £30 you can see why people do it.

@RollaCola84 which is a problem compounded by the travelling public wanting to spend as little as possible on flights and doing everything they can to get them. Airline X offers a full service with everything included for £100 and Airline Y offers a basic fare for £80 and your bags for £20, passengers will almost always choose Airline Y but they still want to take the same amount of stuff Airline X allows them so they shove it all in a wheelie bag, take it all in the cabin and go ‘ha! Managed to win there!’

Market forces have driven the changes in aviation. I’ve spent 20 years in a full service airline and watched as bit by bit all the nice things and luxuries have been stripped out. The management tell us we must do this to cut costs as passenger vote with their wallets and the low costs lead the way in this. It is, apparently, what the passenger wants. Right up to the point where they realise they don’t want that - at that point is where airlines (even the lo-cos) need to step in a remove the ability to take so much in the cabin.

n the 60's a lot of people died in a fire in a Woolworths. Research found that it was mainly people in the cafe who had queued to pay before leaving.
People do not behave this way because they are stupid. They behave this way because they do not see the risks and go into automatic mode.
Yes. It was the 1970s and I remember it well. Most of the people who died had stayed in the cafe on the top floor eating because they couldnt 'see' a fire until it was too late and that fire changed fire safety rules in the UK. ( Fire exits were actually locked, unbelievably, to stop shop lifters.) I don't think there was an alarm up there - just staff shouting. The smoke spread so quickly they had no chance.

I believe if it took 55 seconds for that plane to go up there is no way those passengers would have known. For some ( me included as I hate flying) we'd just want to get off asap but others are more methodical and maybe think they have more time than they think. What would it achieve to prosecute them ? The problem is whatever caused the plane to fail in the first place and those people now have to live with the knowledge if they'd left their bags more people would have survived.

I believe we are long overdue having a massive overhaul on passenger 'eitquette', hand luggage, alcohol, the lot.
It should be far stricter.
Only the other day a couple were arrested and removed from a flight because they refused to watch and listen to the flight safety rules and demonstration.

Backinthebox That is why there needs to be laws around it.

I think people always assume it's a drill. DH is fire warden at his work and he has to really push people to get out of the building. Their phone calls with "important" clients are far more crucial than getting out. I have to say that in his shoes I would probably be a little less polite, he is nicer than I am, and I'm not sure "nice" is what is needed in these situations. I'd just tell them to f-ing get out NOW or else and snatch the phone out of their hand! He thinks it would be career limiting, I disagree.

I've been a fire warden in my time. Had a similar situation only it was the Managing Director, and he just ignored the alarm. The problem was the fire alarm company alerted the fire brigade who turned up damn quick due to the location. Leading Fire officer asked me if I knew if anyone was left in the building and I told him. A couple of firemen went in "recovered" the MD who got a massive bollocking from the leading Fireman in front of 100 staff. And I mean massive. I won't say people covered their ears, but it would certainly not have been out of place on "The Thick of It".

I've a friend who is a fireman, and he lost two friends many years ago who died trying to put out a fire started for the insurance. Their children were at the funerals .

@Backinthebox I agree entirely. I got involved in a thread a few weeks ago regarding paying to select seats ie sit with the person/people you're travelling with. People want the 20 years ago service with checked baggage, included drinks/snacks and allocated seating but for the no frills price.

I would ban suitcases and limit cabin baggage to a rucksack / briefcase / large handbag size item.

"I would ban suitcases and limit cabin baggage to a rucksack / briefcase / large handbag size item."

You can be on my airline when I change the world which won't be this year because I am a bit busy, but one day....

I shouldn't answer this as I'm so angry...

You don't know how you would react. You just don't. My husband died last year and a member of the family has blamed me for the death. Stood up at the inquest and listed all the things I got wrong. They're all true. But he wasn't there. He doesn't know.

These people were in a plane crash and wee very close to death. Have a little compassion and human empathy.

I agree that carry on luggage should be limited to a small handbag and 1 other bag that you can carry over your shoulder or on your back. Nothing with wheels on should be allowed IMO. Boarding is a nightmare these days with so many people blocking the aisles while they put their huge cases in the lockers and sort themselves out.

TemporaryPermanent

People in "herds" are stupid. Human behaviour research has observed this.

People in emergencies are stupid - our forebrain switches off and instinct takes over, there is no time to think and no point in directing sugar to brain cells when it could be better used by muscles. This has been observed by biologists.

People in herds in an emergency are, I imagine, the worst for stupidity!

It's why we should practice fire drills and the like. Give our autopilot half a chance of providing something more useful to do than to retrieve luggage.

I remember having to evacuate an entire hotel because of a fire in my little kitchen. There were flames coming out of the door into the bar and people were still being pissy that they wanted to order food and drink right now, not evacuate

This is an interesting video on the lethargic response humans have to fire. It was used in training courses I’ve been on.

My DH was on a flight that was evacuated due to an internal fire. Attendants instructed people to leave their luggage - everyone did aside from one couple where the woman blocked the aisle to get a bag out. Other passengers assumed it was for medication (as she said she had to get it for her husband). Once safely in airport... turns out he desperately needed his cigarettes!