A new safety campaign launched by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is reminding plane passengers what they need to do when instructed to evacuate the aircraft. They should follow crew instructions, leave all baggage behind and move quickly to the nearest usable exit.

Importance of Following Crew Instructions

Retrieving items from the overhead bins costs valuable seconds, IATA warns, and puts everyone’s safety at risk. Carrying bags and suitcases when passengers are struggling to get out can cause people to fall or damage the slides needed for exit.

Safety is a shared responsibility, and informed, attentive passengers help ensure a faster, safer evacuation for everyone on board, said Bryan Bedford from the Federal Aviation Administration in an IATA news release about the campaign.

Recent Aviation Incidents

A former Air Canada pilot is facing criminal charges for flying tens of thousands of passengers for nearly 17 years with a fake pilot’s license, Canadian police announced Tuesday. Additionally, there have been incidents of passengers attempting to force their way into the airplane cockpit, on separate flights to Chicago and Minneapolis.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.