FAA · Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFO)
SAFO 25003: Addressing Risk Associated with Passenger Non-Compliance and Retention of Carry-On Baggage and Personal Items During Emergency Evacuations.
In Brief
What It Addresses
This SAFO serves to emphasize the operational and safety-critical importance of strict passenger compliance with crewmember instructions during emergency evacuations. Specifically, it addresses the adverse effects of passengers attempting to evacuate with carry-on items, which can significantly impede evacuation procedures and increase the potential for injury or fatality.
Why It Matters
Operational data, post-event analyses, and safety reports have identified a recurring safety hazard: passenger attempts to retrieve carry-on items during evacuations. This behavior directly affects safety by undermining evacuation efficiency.
Recommended Action
Operators should evaluate their emergency evacuation procedures, training and emergency announcements and commands to address passenger non-compliance particularly in relation to carry-on item retrieval. A coordinated approach rooted in regulatory compliance, operational best practice, and clear public communication may contribute significantly to reducing evacuation times and preserving life in time-critical emergencies.
From the Document: selected source passages, quoted as written, for a quick overview.
Distributed by: Flight Standards
http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo/all_safos___________ A SAFO contains important safety information and may include recommended action. Besides the specific action recommended in a SAFO, an alternative action may be as effective in addressing the safety issue named in the SAFO. This is a guidance document. Its content is not legally binding in its own right and will not be relied upon by the Department as a separate basis for affirmative enforcement action or other administrative penalty. Conformity with the guidance document is voluntary only. Nonconformity will not affect rights and obligations under existing statutes and regulations.
Subject: Addressing Risk Associated with Passenger Non-Compliance and Retention of Carry-On Baggage and Personal Items During Emergency Evacuations.
Purpose: This SAFO serves to emphasize the operational and safety-critical importance of strict passenger compliance with crewmember instructions during emergency evacuations. Specifically, it addresses the adverse effects of passengers attempting to evacuate with carry-on items, which can significantly impede evacuation procedures and increase the potential for injury or fatality.
Background: Operational data, post-event analyses, and safety reports have identified a recurring safety hazard: passenger attempts to retrieve carry-on items during evacuations. This behavior directly affects safety by undermining evacuation efficiency. It has been cited as a contributing factor in delayed evacuations, increased injury rates, and compromised survivability during time-critical emergencies involving smoke, fire, or structural damage.
Discussion: Passenger retrieval of carry-on items during emergency evacuations introduces numerous risks and hazards, including but not limited to:
Elevated injury and fatality risk, due to passenger crowding in aisles and exits blocked by baggage.
Delays to egress, increasing total evacuation time beyond survivability thresholds.
Trip, slip, and fall hazards, particularly in high-stress, low-visibility environments.
Damage to evacuation slides.
Any delay caused by retrieval of baggage can significantly affect survival rates in rapidly deteriorating conditions.
Recommended Action: Operators should evaluate their emergency evacuation procedures, training and emergency announcements and commands to address passenger non-compliance particularly in relation to carry-on item retrieval. A coordinated approach rooted in regulatory compliance, operational best practice, and clear public communication may contribute significantly to reducing evacuation times and preserving life in time-critical emergencies. Operators should consider the following:
SAFOSafety Alert for Operators
U.S. Department
of Transportation
Federal Aviation
Administration
SAFO 25003
DATE: 09/16/25
Flight Standards Service
Washington, DC
Distributed by: Flight Standards
A. Safety Management System (SMS). Operators should leverage their SMS to evaluate evacuation procedures and identify potential hazards, implementing mitigation strategies as appropriate. B. Safety Briefings.
Ensure safety briefings instruct passengers to leave all belongings behind in the event of an evacuation.
Use standardized, concise messaging stating that all bags or personal belongings must be left behind with no exceptions.
Evaluate exit row passenger briefing to ensure effectiveness.
C. Passenger Outreach and Education Campaigns
Consider communication methods to highlight consequences of non-compliance with crewmember commands regarding retrieval of personal items during an evacuation.
Display visual content in airport terminals and boarding areas demonstrating appropriate evacuation behavior and consequences of non-compliance with crewmember commands.
Use universally recognizable symbols or pictograms to convey messages across language barriers.
Incorporate messaging that appeals to collective responsibility (e.g., “Help everyone get out safely—leave your bags.”).
Establish and normalize expected behavior by promoting the idea that “everyone leaves bags behind.”
Contact: Direct questions or comments regarding this SAFO to the Air Transportation Division at 9-AFS-200-Correspondence@faa.gov.
Source: Federal Aviation Administration — www.faa.gov. Reproduced from the published record; FlightPush adds formatting only.
SAFO 25003