FAA told to look at carry-on bags during emergencies

(AP) – A number of passengers aboard an American Airlines flight that caught fire at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in 2016 refused to leave behind their carry-on bags in one of four incidents in the past several years in which an evacuation was hampered by travelers grabbing carry-on luggage, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The NTSB recently completed its investigation into the October 2016 fire aboard the jetliner, blaming it on an engine problem – microscopic “fatigue” cracks in a turbine disk caused it to break apart at incredible velocity, piercing a fuel line and tank and igniting one side of the aircraft, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The NTSB is asking the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to look into the luggage issue and whether anything can be done to discourage passengers from trying to grab carry-on bags during emergencies.

The fire began before the Miamibound plane had taken off from O’Hare. Although flames were visible to many passengers and smoke was pouring in, some people insisted on retrieving their carry-on bags from overhead compartments, according to federal records showing post-incident interviews with flight attendants.

One person was seriously hurt and 20 others suffered minor injuries.

Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the NTSB, told the Sun-Times that it’s worth exploring whether passengers who refuse to leave behind their bags should be fined. He said that’s up to the FAA to decide.

“I have thought about that,” Sumwalt said. “People might be less inclined to worry about all their Gucci luggage.”