(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — After more than 300 passengers and crew escaped from a burning airliner in Tokyo on Tuesday, an aviation expert said there are important safety lessons for all airline passengers.
The Japan Airlines plane was landing when it collided with a Japanese Coast Guard plane.
Five people died on the Coast Guard plane, but everyone on the Japan Airlines flight was able to evacuate safely from their burning plane by sliding down emergency chutes.
John Cox, an aviation safety consultant, said that's because passengers followed the flight crew's instructions — including instructions to leave their personal belongings behind.
“Going into the overhead bins to get computers, or briefcases, or carry-on bags — all of that blocks access [for] you and other people to aisleways that need to be filled with people getting off of the airplane,” said Cox.
He added that it’s crucial for airline passengers to follow the instructions of flight attendants and to locate the nearest exit when taking their seat.
Cox said because passengers on the Japan Airlines flight followed the flight crew's instructions, the plane was evacuated in minutes.
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