In a move to enhance passenger safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is urging US airlines to improve compliance with safety protocols during emergency evacuations. The FAA's Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO 25003), issued on September 16, 2025, stresses the importance of ensuring that passengers leave their carry-on bags behind during evacuations to reduce delays and hazards.
The FAA's new Safety Alert for Operators addresses a significant concern in air travel: passengers' attempts to retrieve their carry-on baggage during emergency evacuations. According to the alert, there have been multiple instances where passengers tried to grab their belongings before exiting, thereby slowing down evacuations, creating dangers in crowded aisles, and, in some cases, damaging evacuation slides. This behavior presents serious risks, including delayed exits that could jeopardize passengers' safety.
While the Safety Alert is not a regulation, it serves as a strong recommendation from the FAA's Flight Standards Service, urging airlines to take the advice seriously and integrate it into their operational procedures. The FAA expects airlines to act promptly to enhance safety, following the agency's guidance, which is backed by data and safety reports.
The FAA highlighted that non-compliance during emergency evacuations is not just an inconvenience -- it is a life-threatening issue. Passenger attempts to retain carry-on baggage can obstruct aisles, create trip hazards, and cause further delays during critical evacuation procedures. This delay may prevent passengers from reaching exits within the necessary time frame, increasing the risk of injury or even fatalities.
In particular, the risk of compromised safety equipment due to the retention of baggage in emergency situations is of concern. The FAA has documented several incidents where passengers' non-compliance in evacuating without bags led to significant safety risks, including damage to evacuation slides. Therefore, it is crucial for airlines to address this challenge to ensure quicker, safer evacuations in case of an emergency.
To address these concerns, the FAA has called on airlines to reevaluate their emergency evacuation procedures, flight-crew training, and passenger announcements. The agency emphasizes that crew members should be thoroughly trained to ensure they can deliver clear, firm, and unambiguous evacuation instructions. Exit-row briefings, in particular, should be reviewed to ensure they are effective and consistently delivered, with a focus on ensuring passengers understand that they must evacuate immediately without their carry-on bags.
The FAA also encourages airlines to expand their passenger education efforts, particularly in airport terminals and boarding areas. This could involve installing new signage with universally recognized symbols that transcend language barriers. Simple yet direct messages, such as "Help everyone get out safely -- leave your bags," should be displayed to remind passengers of their responsibility during evacuations. The use of visual reminders and video campaigns could significantly enhance passenger awareness and cooperation.
In addition to improving training and communication, the FAA advises airlines to assess their current safety management systems (SMS) to ensure they are addressing the risk of passenger non-compliance. This assessment should include reviewing procedures and introducing new scenarios into crew training, such as passengers reaching for their carry-ons during an emergency. Airlines should ensure that both written and recorded announcements are consistent, and that signage clearly conveys the evacuation message.
Carriers are also encouraged to incorporate this issue into their safety protocols, assessing their SMS for any weaknesses in evacuation procedures. The FAA suggests airlines explore new tools to monitor how well current procedures address the hazards associated with passenger non-compliance. This comprehensive approach will allow airlines to ensure that they are ready to mitigate the risks associated with carry-on baggage retention during emergency evacuations.
Airlines are expected to respond to the FAA's recommendations by updating preflight safety demonstrations, revising safety cards, and possibly adopting standardized phrases for evacuation announcements. It is anticipated that these changes will be implemented quickly to enhance passenger cooperation and ensure that safety protocols are reinforced.
The FAA will closely monitor airlines' responses to the alert, looking for updates in crew training, new passenger-facing materials, and changes to onboard announcements. Airlines will be expected to show a proactive approach in improving safety, particularly when it comes to eliminating the dangers posed by carry-on baggage during evacuations.
The FAA's new safety alert underscores the importance of swift and efficient emergency evacuations. In situations where every second counts, passenger cooperation is vital for a safe and orderly exit. The retention of carry-on baggage during emergencies poses a serious threat to safety, and it is essential that both passengers and airlines work together to minimize this risk.
The FAA's recommendations aim to improve the overall safety of air travel by ensuring that passengers understand their responsibility to evacuate quickly and without unnecessary delays. With the new guidelines, airlines are expected to refine their evacuation procedures, enhance passenger communication, and reinforce crew training, all of which will contribute to safer air travel for everyone.