Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight from Denver to Miami were forced into a swift emergency evacuation this past weekend after a maintenance issue grounded the aircraft on the runway. All 173 passengers and six crew members escaped using emergency slides, and while most made it off safely, one person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
As video clips from the scene spread across social media, a troubling pattern persists: travelers clutching carry-on bags while sliding to safety. This behavior is so dangerous that it raises the question of whether you can actually get in trouble for grabbing your bag during an evacuation.
The 90-Second Rule That Can Mean Life or Death
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations require that all commercial aircraft be capable of evacuating all passengers and crew within 90 seconds, even if half the exits are blocked. This rule isn’t arbitrary. Aircraft evacuation studies show that every second counts in avoiding fatalities from fire, smoke inhalation, or structural collapse.
Leanna Coy, a flight attendant who recently went viral on TikTok for calling out this behavior, stressed to the New York Post: “You should never bring your bag in an airplane evacuation… If you pop that slide with your bag, now everyone is out of luck.”
Dragging carry-on baggage through a crowded, panicked aircraft can block aisles, tear evacuation slides, and injure fellow passengers. And yet, time and again, footage from emergency landings shows travelers doing exactly that.
Can Passengers Be Held Liable?
The short answer is yes — potentially.
Although no federal statute explicitly criminalizes taking luggage during an evacuation, passengers can still face serious consequences. The FAA has the authority to impose civil fines for failure to comply with crew instructions, especially during emergencies.
In 2018, FOX13 News reported that more than 150 passengers had been penalized in the last five years for such interference.
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, has urged stricter enforcement:
“The FAA should use existing laws to crack down on passengers endangering themselves and countless others as they put computers, cosmetics and clothing ahead of human life.”
Legal experts agree. A review by NYC Aviation notes that passengers may face criminal charges, such as reckless endangerment or interfering with flight crew duties, if their actions are found to delay evacuations or harm others.
Why Do People Still Grab Their Bags?
Human behavior experts attribute panic, habit, and poor safety culture to these issues. Many passengers underestimate the seriousness of an evacuation or believe they can “quickly” grab a bag without causing harm.
“As horrifying as it is to see people grabbing their bags while evacuating, in the moment, passengers aren’t thinking clearly,” said travel analyst Gary Leff. “They may see just what is right in front of them.”
Experts in passenger behavior cite panic, confusion, and habit as primary drivers. Unless passengers are thoroughly educated before takeoff, these split-second decisions are unlikely to change.
What Airlines and the FAA Are (and Aren’t) Doing About It
While aviation experts and safety advocates are urging action, there’s still no standardized approach among airlines or federal regulators when it comes to addressing passengers who violate evacuation protocols.
Some experts are calling for updated FAA guidelines and more consistent enforcement, starting with stronger pre-flight safety briefings that clearly outline the legal consequences of noncompliance. Others suggest implementing visual deterrents, such as locking overhead bins during takeoff and landing, to discourage passengers from reaching for their bags in the event of an emergency.
Public awareness campaigns, similar to those used for seatbelt enforcement or smoking bans, are also being proposed to shift passenger behavior. Despite these recommendations, the FAA and airlines have yet to adopt a unified strategy, leaving a critical gap in safety enforcement.
Final Thoughts
Grabbing your bag during a plane evacuation isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it can be a life-threatening mistake. While legal accountability remains murky, one thing is clear: no possession is worth risking your life or someone else’s.
As more incidents surface and social media continues to document these violations in real-time, it’s likely that the FAA and airlines will be forced to take more aggressive action. Until then, the responsibility rests with every passenger to understand that this is a team effort.
When it’s time to evacuate, you have a choice: risk lives for your brand-new Coach bag or help ensure the stranger in seat 23B makes it out alive.