London - Passengers who reached for their luggage before fleeing the burning BA plane were on Wednesday accused of risking safety.
The evacuation of stricken flight 2276 was hampered by some people retrieving their bags from overhead lockers, according to fellow passengers. They said some passengers then took bags and laptops down the emergency slide - strictly against aviation rules. Eight people were taken to hospital, with most hurt using the slide.
A photo taken as passengers fled shows a man with two large bags while another wheels a suitcase. Another image shows women with large handbags. Passengers are told to leave belongings in an emergency.
Passenger Jay Jennings, 25, of Southampton, said: “A few people were trying to take items from the overhead bins - I don’t think they had seen the fire or knew how serious the situation was. I was just saying to them to leave it and get off.”
UK Flight Safety Committee’s Dai Whittingham said: “It’s really quite wrong and it’s definitely dangerous. Escape routes can be impeded. Furthermore, injuries can be caused by bags being thrown down the slide.”
But sports journalist Jacob Steinberg, who was on the flight, said those who took bags should not be criticised. He said: “People go into panic mode in that situation.”
Daily Mail