Lock the lockers to avoid temptation in emergency

I found the most alarming pictures those of people vacating the aircraft down the escape slides with baggage in hand.

The Sukhoi SSJ100 aircraft of Aeroflot Airlines on fire, at Sheremetyevo airport, outside Moscow, Russia. At least 40 people died when an Aeroflot airliner burst into flames while making an emergency landing at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, officials said early Monday.

HOW distressing to see those people dying in the inferno that was a Russian passenger aircraft on the news recently.

I found the most alarming pictures those of people vacating the aircraft down the escape slides with baggage in hand.

More than 10 people died in the accident, many of whom were, it was said, inconvenienced in their escape by people accessing their bags in the overhead lockers, oblivious to those in the rear of the aircraft who were doing their best to escape the flames.

This is an opportune time I believe for the powers that be, of the passenger aircraft industry, to install locks in the overhead storage, and as part of the safety announcements prior to take off should inform all passengers that in an emergency where the plane has to land outside normal procedure, that the locks will engage automatically so everyone can escape without delay.

This situation should never happen again, but anyone who has witnessed the urgency that comes over people when a plane has landed in total safety at the airport may have different opinion.

WILLIAM HILL

Caloundra

Originally published as Lock the lockers to avoid temptation in emergency