The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a global safety campaign urging airline passengers to leave all cabin baggage behind during emergency evacuations, warning that even a few seconds of delay could cost lives.
The campaign, titled Save a Life, Not a Bag, is backed by major aviation safety regulators, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It aims to reinforce instructions routinely given by cabin crew: follow directions, leave belongings behind, and evacuate the aircraft as quickly as possible.
IATA said the initiative follows growing concern over incidents in which passengers have attempted to retrieve carry-on luggage during emergency evacuations. In some cases, footage shared on social media has shown passengers leaving aircraft with bags despite clear instructions to abandon all belongings.
Aircraft evacuations are designed to be completed within 90 seconds, but safety officials warn that retrieving luggage can slow movement, block aisles and exits, and increase the risk of injury or overcrowding.
Willie Walsh, IATA director general, said even brief delays can have serious consequences.
“Taking bags during an evacuation is not a minor issue — every second matters. Even taking one bag can affect the safe evacuation of everyone on board,” he said.
“Crew instructions are clear and simple: leave everything behind and move quickly to the nearest usable exit. Save a Life, Not a Bag is a message passengers need to understand and act on.”
EASA executive director Florian Guillermet said crew training and aircraft design are based on strict safety standards, but passenger behaviour is critical in an emergency.
“Rapid evacuation in an emergency saves lives,” he said. “For this to work, all passengers must play their part: follow crew instructions, leave all baggage behind and move quickly to the nearest usable exit.”
FAA administrator Bryan Bedford also warned that failure to comply with crew instructions can significantly increase risk during an evacuation.
“In those moments, compliance is critical. Passengers must act quickly, follow instructions without hesitation and leave all belongings behind,” he said.
Nick Careen, IATA senior vice president for operations, safety and security, said even small delays can have serious consequences.
“Even just a passenger or two taking a few extra seconds to gather personal items can endanger lives,” he said.
The association said baggage taken during evacuations can damage evacuation slides, obstruct exits and create hazards for both passengers and crew.
The campaign also encourages passengers to prepare before take-off and landing by keeping essential items such as passports, money and medication on their person.
IATA said campaign materials, including digital assets and video content, will be made available to airlines and industry partners for passenger education.
