In the recent unfortunate event in Russia 41 person lost their life after a Russian plane made an emergency landing and burst into flames just after takeoff from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport. Aeroflot aircraft fire emergency in Moscow
On the video recordings that spread on the social media, it was noticeable that some passengers took their suitcases and bags with them while escaping from the burning aircraft. Everyone who ever traveled by plane knows that carry-on luggage is placed above the seats, and the only way to reach it is to stand up and effectively block the aisle and reach then for your bag that is maybe even pushed by some other bags. To complete all of that in a regular situation can take 30 seconds. Now put into the equation that you are stressed and panicking due the emergency situation. Your hands and knees are shaking thus your capabilities are not that sharp, which means that same process can take up to 1 minute or even more. The FAA requires that all aircraft are capable of being evacuated in 90 seconds. It takes only a minute and a half for a fire to spread and engulf an aircraft.
As a sociologist, I can’t help but ask myself what happened with humankind? What happened with rational thinking and compassion? It is unbelievable that we have witnessed cherishing material stuff above another human being.
Where is the problem?
Many passengers delayed emergency evacuation because against all instructions they were picking up hand luggage from overhead compartments. The main problem is that safety instructions given on the beginning of the flight are poorly listened or in most cases ignored. Crew instructs passengers on every flight how to react in an emergency situation. On the other hand, people trust chosen airline unconditionally and that thinking “things like that can’t happen to me” lead to ignoring safety instructions.
What is the solution?
In many cases and especially in this one, it is proven that we cannot count on people to react in order to save someone other than themselves. Maybe the solution is again in technologies. Locking carry-on storage in the case of emergency by a pilot who would press the lock button would maybe solve this problem. In that case, even if they try to save their personal belongings and not to help other people they would be stopped.
Maxim Moiseyev, 22-year-old flight attendant on the flight SU1492, lost his life in a struggle to save passengers lives. Commitment to the job, unselfishness and professionalism are what flight crew is trained for; do not make their job more difficult than it is. Listen to safety instructions and above all be a human.
