The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a rare, sharply worded warning to airlines and travelers, saying that passengers who stop to grab carry-on baggage during emergency evacuations are putting lives at risk. In a Safety Alert for Operators released on September 16, 2025, the agency introduced SAFO 25003, calling on airlines worldwide to change how crews talk about bags in emergencies and how passengers are trained to react when seconds decide who lives and who dies.
Core message of the alert
The alert, titled “Addressing Risk Associated with Passenger Non-Compliance and Retention of Carry-On Baggage and Personal Items During Emergency Evacuations,” focuses on one simple message: in an evacuation, people must leave everything behind.
That may sound obvious, yet video from recent incidents shows long lines of passengers stopping to open overhead bins, pulling out roller bags, and blocking the aisle — even while smoke fills the cabin. For millions of international travelers, including immigrants, students, seasonal workers, and visitors flying to the United States 🇺🇸 on visas, the warning is a direct reminder that passports, laptops, and legal documents all come second to getting out alive.
Why the 90‑second standard matters
In SAFO 25003, the FAA explains that current rules already require aircraft makers to prove a full plane can be emptied in 90 seconds under simulated emergency conditions, even when some exits are blocked and there are minor obstacles in the aisle. That 90‑second standard is based on studies of how quickly fire, toxic smoke, or structural damage can make a cabin unsurvivable.
When passengers slow emergency evacuations by reaching for suitcases or backpacks, the time can stretch past that window, turning a survivable accident into a deadly one.
In an evacuation, never reach for luggage. Delays block aisles and can push evacuations past the 90‑second window, risking lives of nearby passengers and crew.
Recent incidents cited
The alert points to several recent cases in which crew members reported widespread non‑compliance, despite clear shouted orders to leave bags. In each case, photos and reports described passengers carrying bags down slides or clogging aisles while others waited behind them.
| Airline / Flight | Aircraft | Location / Trigger | Reported issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines Flight 3023 | Boeing 737 MAX 8 | Evacuated in Denver after a tire fire | Passengers carrying bags, blocking aisles |
| Hawaiian Airlines Flight 15 | Airbus A330 | Evacuated in San Diego after a bomb threat | Bags removed from overhead bins during evacuation |
| Delta Air Lines Flight 1213 | Airbus A330 | Evacuated in Orlando following an engine fire | Passengers carrying luggage down slides |
Why this is especially relevant to international travelers
For people on international routes, those bags often contain passports, green cards, work permits, and other immigration records that are hard to replace and deeply tied to their future. Many immigrants say their first instinct in a crisis is to protect those documents.
Safety experts stress that documents can often be re‑issued, but a single blocked aisle can trap dozens of people in a burning aircraft. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this new alert is likely to trigger changes in how airlines talk about carry-on baggage to foreign nationals — especially those who may not be familiar with U.S. safety culture or may not fully catch English‑only announcements.
Recommended airline and crew actions in SAFO 25003
SAFO 25003 urges airlines to rethink nearly every part of the evacuation chain. The alert calls for:
- A review of cabin crew training
- Stronger and more direct wording in preflight safety briefings
- Updated safety cards with clearer visuals
- Clearer announcements during real‑world emergencies
The document suggests that messages must be standardized, forceful, and easy to grasp quickly, even for passengers with limited English or for children and older adults. While the alert itself is not a regulation, the FAA’s Flight Standards Service expects carriers to treat it as a serious safety directive rather than optional advice.
Practical and social challenges
Airlines must now consider how to reach travelers who may never have flown before, or who come from regions where safety rules are enforced differently. This includes:
- Refugees arriving on humanitarian flights
- Migrant workers traveling on temporary visas
- Mixed‑status families who carry all their legal and financial life in a single backpack
Advocates note these passengers may be especially afraid of losing identity documents, worrying that without them they might face detention, missed immigration hearings, or lost job offers once they land.
Cabin crew unions have long warned that flight attendants already face verbal and sometimes physical resistance when they order people to sit down or leave bags. The alert may support stricter training on how to command authority in a crisis, but it also highlights the pressure on crews caught between saving time and avoiding confrontation. For immigrant passengers who fear authority figures due to past experiences, that tension may be even stronger.
Industry and international response
Industry reaction so far has been cautious but generally supportive. Carriers know that viral videos of people dragging suitcases down slides spark public anger and questions about training.
- Some airlines already began testing stronger wording in safety demonstrations, with flight attendants explicitly saying: “anyone taking personal items may put other passengers in danger.”
- SAFO 25003 pushes them to go further, possibly by adding visual symbols on safety cards (for example, a red X over a passenger reaching for overhead bins during an emergency).
Regulators outside the United States are watching closely. The alert notes that international bodies like the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) maintain similar 90‑second evacuation standards, and many non‑U.S. carriers operate under both systems. For global travelers — including those flying between visa appointments, asylum hearings, or family reunions — the message is likely to be echoed by both U.S. and foreign crews. That could lead to a more consistent worldwide rule: if the slides are out or the doors are open in an emergency, bags stay on board.
Practical tips for travelers and community groups
For travelers who want official guidance, the FAA’s passenger safety information explains evacuation basics, including why speed matters more than belongings.
Safety educators recommend community outreach and simple personal steps:
Before you fly, keep essential documents in a body‑worn pouch and rehearse a quick exit with family or colleagues. This reduces temptation to grab bags and speeds your evacuation when seconds count.
- Keep important documents (passport, green card, work permits) in a small pouch on your body rather than in an overhead suitcase.
- Learn basic evacuation instructions in the primary language(s) used on your route.
- Practice listening for and following crew commands immediately during an evacuation.
Community groups that work with newcomers, international students, or migrant workers should consider adding air travel safety to orientations and workshops.
“In the seconds after an accident, other passengers don’t care about your laptop, your duty‑free bag, or even your passport. They care whether the aisle ahead is clear.”
Final takeaway
Although SAFO 25003 focuses on operators, its real audience is every person who steps on a plane. The alert underlines a harsh reality: when the order to evacuate comes, you go — leave everything behind. The plane and its contents can be replaced. Your life, and the lives of the people behind you, cannot.
On Sept. 16, 2025 the FAA issued SAFO 25003, warning that passengers who retrieve carry‑on items in emergencies put lives at risk. The alert emphasizes the industry’s 90‑second evacuation standard and documents recent incidents where luggage slowed escapes. It urges airlines to strengthen crew training, adopt clearer, standardized safety briefings and visuals for non‑English speakers, and encourage passengers to keep vital documents on their person and evacuate immediately when instructed.
