BA Plane Fire - people in a time of crisis think only of themselves

It's not a few people, though. It's nearly all of them. I'll admit that I would be tempted, too. Particularly as I would presumably be waiting at my seat for a while for the congestion to clear. Why not take those few seconds to grab my bag? One thing I wouldn't do though is scream. Other than to scream at the others to stop bloody screaming.

Speculation. Were they told that it was ok by the cabin crew? Did they already have the bags on their laps when it landed? All I see is handbags. Not exactly carry on luggage.

I've seen pictures of some pushing those wheeled cabin bags away from the burning plane. Which they must have clung on to as they bounced down the escape slide.

I wonder how many of the reported 'injuries received while exiting the plane' were due to being popped in the face by a Samsonite...

I suspect if I was being held up by anyone reaching up to get their bag while the plane was on fire that I wouldn't hang around behind them beyond 1 second before I hoofed them out of the way.

I was not on the aircraft and nor were you so what you think and what I think carries no weight. My opinion is that since the fire was in an engine external to the plane the evacuation would have been less time critical.

It is also well researched that people in life threatening situations tend to act as they would in any non-threatening situation.

I heard reports on the BBC suggesting the crew did a fantastic job in saving peoples lives.

THEY MUST BE JOKING.

The first photo clearly shows the pilot stopped the plane with the fuselage downwind of the flaming engine.

The pilot should have swung the plane around positioning the fuselage upwind. His mistake could have killed dozens.

Textbook evacuation as far as BA is concerned. I've flown with them for the best part of 30 years! Give the crew the credit they deserve please!

Yes good result in the end. I'll bet the crew were beside themselves trying to get the idiots to leave their precious luggage behind, though. Politeness may have been strained.

The plane was taking off, not landing. And if they did have their bags on their laps, they were in direct violation of the cabin crew's directions. Carry on luggage is always stowed for takeoff, precisely so that it doesn't get in the way in the unlikely event of an evacuation (nor act as a projectile in the case of an emergency stop).

I can categorically state, without fear of contradiction (by anyone who knows), and would bet my house, that the cabin crew did NOT say that it was OK to take hand luggage.

Yes..the wonders of human nature never cease to amaze. it's also amazing how people manage to get off aircraft at all - viz decamping short haul flights on Friday evenings. It's amazing how flight crews put up with us. All  one had to hear was the plot radio the tower. I wonder how many of us would have been so composed if our house or car was alight?

Textbook landing for the crew - they can't be responsible for the selfish behaviour of passengers.

Maybe it is bad behaviour, but is it so surprising..

Aren't we forgetting something, these are people who choose to holiday in Las Vegas.

Probably a bunch of Essex chavs.

I'd bet that the verbal evacuation instructions by the crew would have included explicit instructions to not take anything with you. However, I agree that getting into a wrestling match with some plonker who thought their bag was worth saving would be counter-productive to the overall effort.

Would a fat passenger burn more slowly? Or more quickly?

Oh dear.  Doesn't look pretty:

If only he'd have parked it better.

Will be interesting to find out why the engine fire extinguisher system did not work as designed.

Good news is that, unlike a crash, all the data has been preserved, and if necessary, changes and improvements can be made.

Most of us who travel have been on, or will someday fly, a 777.  I'll be on one for 15 hours in just a few short weeks. Overall, it has an incredibly good safety record, and hopefully this turns out to be a one-off event.

ATB.

Hook

 .... I've done more hours than is good for the body in 777's ....... cabin crazy flying to, from & around the mid east,  then you get one to USA !!!   then oh no not again to the far east 

This plane G-VIIO was delivered in January 1999,  so in BA terms is getting on a bit.  Whatever BA are renowned for good maintenance so I'm sure it will turn out to be an event that carries no blame but I am sure will change something in the GE-90 manuals.

I am next on one of its sister planes in 4 weeks - these 777-236's ply the Caribbean, Florida & lower density USA routes - I have 3 weeks of beach buming in Antigua  ............  yeah I know, but someone has to 

Exactly. Once some selfish idiot is clutching their "irreplaceable" luggage, it's quicker to just let them go.