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This has been a big discussion point everywhere - about shocking this behavior is and how people's lives are at stake. But let me offer an alternate perspective

This has been a big discussion point everywhere - about shocking this behavior is and how people's lives are at stake. But let me offer an alternate perspective, and maybe some insight into their behavior. If you lose your ID or any other official documents in India, everyone knows how much of a hassle it is going to be to get these documents reissued. Of course the possibility of bribes to move the papers. Insurance claims for lost baggage? I wouldn't rely on it. It might take them a while to save up to buy whatever they might have in their bags too. Laptops, tablets etc. They probably don't earn that much to begin with. This is probably what ran through their minds. Yes, lives are more important in the end and every second counts in such a scenario. But as an individual they might think - hey, it takes a few seconds to grab my bag and jump out. That would save me SO much trouble. Unfortunately that's what everyone thinks and in the end everyone goes for their bags and waste precious time.

nostrademons 10y ago
It seems like a more effective social fix for this would be to ensure that any survivors of a plane crash are immediately met inside the terminal by representatives of the airline, doctors, and members from the national consulate, who give complimentary toiletries, changes of clothes, spending money, etc. and fasttrack any requests for replacement travel documents. Such a system would be beneficial for other reasons as well: in many recent plane crashes, survivors have ended up wandering the area, which leads to a lot of unnecessary stress for loved ones searching for them, administrative hassles for airlines and first responders, and difficulty for accident investigators. If there was a clear protocol for where to go, who to receive, and what you'd receive in the event of a crash, people would be a lot less nervous about their belongings.
- justratsinacoat 10y ago
  >Such a system would be beneficial for other reasons as well: in many recent plane crashes, survivors have ended up wandering the area, which leads to a lot of unnecessary stress for loved ones searching for them, administrative hassles for airlines and first responders, and difficulty for accident investigators. If there was a clear protocol for where to go, who to receive, and what you'd receive in the event of a crash, people would be a lot less nervous about their belongings In light of this, the phenomenon of passengers grabbing their luggage makes objective sense, and has changed my view of people trying to take their carry-on with them. FTA: >> The main reasons passengers gave for grabbing their bags was money, wallets, or credit cards, followed by work materials, keys, and medication The individualism 'above' (no particular effort on the part of airline, airport or first responders to create an environment to receive and help crash survivors) informs the individualism 'below' (one should grab one's documentation, money, means of communication etc because no immediate means of support otherwise exists). Note to self, ALWAYS grab luggage from plane wreckage.
  - iofj 10y ago
    > In light of this, the phenomenon of passengers grabbing their luggage makes objective sense, and has changed my view of people trying to take their carry-on with them. Exactly. What happens here is simple economics, presenting a simple Nash equilibrium and everyone's complaining why nobody reacts against the equilibrium situation. Even worse, the only thing the FAA is worried about is that these things might cost the airlines money ... and that they must punish passengers to make them ignore their own judgement. There's the big fear of being stuck in a foreign country with zero means to communicate or do anything, being entirely dependent on a foreign state for aid. It's not just about money. Meanwhile the risk increase to yourself is not perceived as serious (and it probably isn't), and they're probably standing there waiting for other people to move anyway. Also of note is that plane operators are liable for damages here. Lowering the risk only saves the plane operators, airports and regulators money, whilst costing more to the passengers. Regulating 101: 1) create impossible situation, leaving people alone and helpless, do nothing about people in this situation 2) threaten to punish anyone who attempts to avoid getting into said very bad situation (coming I'm sure) 3) actually punish people for reacting sanely It would be trivial to regulate places on planes so planes can be evacuated much faster (e.g. make mandatory with of aisle double what it is now or outlaw middle seats or generally require sufficient space for passengers to move around and minimum available space for a passenger).
- zeveb 10y ago
  > It seems like a more effective social fix for this would be to ensure that any survivors of a plane crash are immediately met inside the terminal by representatives of the airline, doctors, and members from the national consulate, who give complimentary toiletries, changes of clothes, spending money, etc. and fasttrack any requests for replacement travel documents. That would certainly help, but that would still mean loss of all data on electronic devices not carried out. Sure, I have remote backups — secured with an account whose credentials are stored on my local hard drive.
  - dTal 10y ago
    Erm, let me get this straight. You can't restore the backup of your local hard drive without... your local hard drive?
3pt14159 10y ago
They should just autolock the baggage compartments and maybe line them with insulation to stop a fire from ruining the stuff inside. A purse or a small computer bag on your lap is not going to cause that large of a delay in getting off the plane.
flashman 10y ago
I doubt this is culturally specific to Indians because westerners do it too: https://www.runwaygirlnetwork.com/2015/09/08/incidents-reveal-crucial-need-for-passengers-to-leave-bags-behind/ https://www.runwaygirlnetwork.com/2015/09/08/incidents-revea...

nostrademons 10y ago

It seems like a more effective social fix for this would be to ensure that any survivors of a plane crash are immediately met inside the terminal by representatives of the airline, doctors, and members from the national consulate, who give complimentary toiletries, changes of clothes, spending money, etc. and fasttrack any requests for replacement travel documents. Such a system would be beneficial for other reasons as well: in many recent plane crashes, survivors have ended up wandering the area, which leads to a lot of unnecessary stress for loved ones searching for them, administrative hassles for airlines and first responders, and difficulty for accident investigators. If there was a clear protocol for where to go, who to receive, and what you'd receive in the event of a crash, people would be a lot less nervous about their belongings.

justratsinacoat 10y ago
>Such a system would be beneficial for other reasons as well: in many recent plane crashes, survivors have ended up wandering the area, which leads to a lot of unnecessary stress for loved ones searching for them, administrative hassles for airlines and first responders, and difficulty for accident investigators. If there was a clear protocol for where to go, who to receive, and what you'd receive in the event of a crash, people would be a lot less nervous about their belongings In light of this, the phenomenon of passengers grabbing their luggage makes objective sense, and has changed my view of people trying to take their carry-on with them. FTA: >> The main reasons passengers gave for grabbing their bags was money, wallets, or credit cards, followed by work materials, keys, and medication The individualism 'above' (no particular effort on the part of airline, airport or first responders to create an environment to receive and help crash survivors) informs the individualism 'below' (one should grab one's documentation, money, means of communication etc because no immediate means of support otherwise exists). Note to self, ALWAYS grab luggage from plane wreckage.
- iofj 10y ago
  > In light of this, the phenomenon of passengers grabbing their luggage makes objective sense, and has changed my view of people trying to take their carry-on with them. Exactly. What happens here is simple economics, presenting a simple Nash equilibrium and everyone's complaining why nobody reacts against the equilibrium situation. Even worse, the only thing the FAA is worried about is that these things might cost the airlines money ... and that they must punish passengers to make them ignore their own judgement. There's the big fear of being stuck in a foreign country with zero means to communicate or do anything, being entirely dependent on a foreign state for aid. It's not just about money. Meanwhile the risk increase to yourself is not perceived as serious (and it probably isn't), and they're probably standing there waiting for other people to move anyway. Also of note is that plane operators are liable for damages here. Lowering the risk only saves the plane operators, airports and regulators money, whilst costing more to the passengers. Regulating 101: 1) create impossible situation, leaving people alone and helpless, do nothing about people in this situation 2) threaten to punish anyone who attempts to avoid getting into said very bad situation (coming I'm sure) 3) actually punish people for reacting sanely It would be trivial to regulate places on planes so planes can be evacuated much faster (e.g. make mandatory with of aisle double what it is now or outlaw middle seats or generally require sufficient space for passengers to move around and minimum available space for a passenger).
zeveb 10y ago
> It seems like a more effective social fix for this would be to ensure that any survivors of a plane crash are immediately met inside the terminal by representatives of the airline, doctors, and members from the national consulate, who give complimentary toiletries, changes of clothes, spending money, etc. and fasttrack any requests for replacement travel documents. That would certainly help, but that would still mean loss of all data on electronic devices not carried out. Sure, I have remote backups — secured with an account whose credentials are stored on my local hard drive.
- dTal 10y ago
  Erm, let me get this straight. You can't restore the backup of your local hard drive without... your local hard drive?

3pt14159 10y ago

They should just autolock the baggage compartments and maybe line them with insulation to stop a fire from ruining the stuff inside. A purse or a small computer bag on your lap is not going to cause that large of a delay in getting off the plane.

flashman 10y ago

I doubt this is culturally specific to Indians because westerners do it too: https://www.runwaygirlnetwork.com/2015/09/08/incidents-reveal-crucial-need-for-passengers-to-leave-bags-behind/ https://www.runwaygirlnetwork.com/2015/09/08/incidents-revea...