Ask the Captain: Is it OK to rat out passengers for phone use during takeoff and landing?
Question: Why don’t airlines stress strongly to leave overhead bins closed during emergency evacuations? Some people on the recent crash in Russia delayed the evacuation and most likely caused deaths. I've also seen videos showing people running from crash sites with their carry-on luggage. No luggage is worth losing lives over.
– Dan O, Massachusetts
Answer: Passengers who attempt to retrieve overhead luggage during and evacuation put themselves at risk and others at risk.
It is critical that people leave their luggage and concentrate on getting out of the airplane quickly. Airlines try to emphasize this, but too many passengers do not pay attention.
You are right that the tragic loss of 41 lives in the May 6 Aeroflot crash in Russia was an example of passengers taking extra time to get their luggage.
I agree with you.
Aeroflot crash: Were lives lost at the cost of carry-ons in Aeroflot tragedy?
Q: When the cabin door closes and the cabin staff announces for all cellular devices to be placed in airplane mode or turned off, some passengers feel this announcement does not pertain to them. They keep talking. Is it acceptable to rat them out to cabin staff? – Allen Har, Asheville, North Carolina
A: I agree, there are passengers who do not comply and get belligerent when a flight attendant does their job of reminding them of the rule.