As others have pointed out, the 18 minutes include things like stopping the plane. But I want to focus on where you got your ideas. The placards should be tell

As others have pointed out, the 18 minutes include things like stopping the plane. But I want to focus on where you got your ideas. The placards should be telling you to follow the directions of the crew members, and only if they are not available to assist should you do anything. Here's the relevant US law, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/135.129 https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/135.129 > (d) Each certificate holder shall include on passenger information cards, presented in the language in which briefings and oral commands are given by the crew, at each exit seat affected by this section, information that, in the event of an emergency in which a crewmember is not available to assist, a passenger occupying an exit seat may use if called upon to perform the following functions: > (1) Locate the emergency exit; > (2) Recognize the emergency exit opening mechanism; > (3) Comprehend the instructions for operating the emergency exit; > (4) Operate the emergency exit; > (5) Assess whether opening the emergency exit will increase the hazards to which passengers may be exposed; > (6) Follow oral directions and hand signals given by a crewmember; > (7) Stow or secure the emergency exit door so that it will not impede use of the exit; > (8) Assess the condition of an escape slide, activate the slide, and stabilize the slide after deployment to assist others in getting off the slide; > (9) Pass expeditiously through the emergency exit; and > (10) Assess, select, and follow a safe path away from the emergency exit. Notice the phrases like "in which a crewmember is not available to assist" and "Follow oral directions and hand signals given by a crewmember"? That is not at all telling you to ignore the stewards or pilots, and I think it's very bad advice. You (as a passenger) have received nowhere near the training as the crew have in how to recognize possible dangers, or to judge when it is appropriate to stay on the plane vs. leave. If you plane crash lands on an airfield, and you see no smoke, fire or other dangers, why leave the plane? Can you tell if fuel is pooling up near overheated brakes? Probably not. But you know who can? The fire fighters who don't want passengers keeping them from dumping loads of water and foam onto the scene. It's also risky to evacuate. People hurt themselves going down the slides.