Are evacuations really as dangerous as some people would have us believe?

[JohnK]

Here is a hypothetical scenario. Yes I know it is silly but can still happen.

Say you have $9,990 in your hand luggage and you have to evacuate. We are not sure whether the evacuation is life threatening or precautionary. If you leave hand luggage behind there is a chance that money is gone and is not recoverable even with travel insurance.

Yes I know you shouldn't do it in the first place but some people do. You can't say tough luck and should have known better. And there are people who put personal belongings in their hand luggage.

 

[dajop]

Here is a hypothetical scenario.

Not at all hypothetical. Get on a flight between Mainland China & SIN (and probably a whole raft of destinations) and it is very common for people to be clutching handbags for whole flight without letting go, as well as documented cases of attempted theft of large sums of cash in hand carry baggage. Ditto for CGK-SIN.

 

[jb747]

Well, perhaps you delay things to get your luggage, and eventually struggle out the door. But, you're the last person out...and at least some of those behind you were your fault.

 

[welltravelled]

Risk Mitigation comes to mind??
What is more important, leaving the aircraft in tact, despite the chance of sustaining an injury on the way out
OR
the money?

Bit like a TV show - Money or the Door?

I think you answered your own question "Yes I know it is silly but can still happen."

 

[harvyk]

I guess the question is what is more valuable to you, your money or your life? Something worth $9,990 can be replaced, your life on the other hand...

 

[welltravelled]

Exactly...

 

[marki]

Reincarnation ...... The next life

 

[mikenz]

it will not come through the PA in circumstances such as OZ.

A cabin crew member making an instant decision to shout 'brace' will not be done through the PA. Those able to hear will be able to act. Cabin crew may not have time have time to reach behind them, pick up the phone, push the button, and issue the command.

It's something they'll shout, unaided, as they did in the OZ accident. There was no command issued from the flight-deck.

So only the people in the immediate vicinity would hear that shout anyway

 

[mikenz]

I've got a feeling that the person that is watching X-Factor on their tablet during an evacuation would have an idea that something was up. I'm sure it's a good show but people fleeing for the exits would surely attract at least a curious glance.

 

[jb747]

I've got a feeling that the person that is watching X-Factor on their tablet during an evacuation would have an idea that something was up. I'm sure it's a good show but people fleeing for the exits would surely attract at least a curious glance.

If someone is watching X factor, then perhaps they should stay in the aircraft.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've got a feeling that the person that is watching X-Factor on their tablet during an evacuation would have an idea that something was up. I'm sure it's a good show but people fleeing for the exits would surely attract at least a curious glance.

it's not the evacuation, but the instruction to adopt the brace position prior to impact that could be missed if people are hooked in to IFE.

I'm not sure if there is an argument to supoort IFE gate-to-gate from a safety perspective... a passenger otherwise preoccupied is potentially either not going to hear a command, or delay following that command.