When was the last time you actually listened to the security instructions on a flight?
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Most passengers can probably list out the most important elements—
Put on an oxygen mask before helping someone else put theirs on. Don’t forget that the nearest emergency exit could be behind your seat. Don’t smoke e-cigarettes—or regular ones.
But what about in the event of fire?
On a recent flight out of Denver, Colorado, passengers exited the plane via an emergency chute after a small brake fire grounded the plane. Instead of sparking questions for the airline, its brake system, and the safety of air travel as a whole, it’s starting to garner attention due to passenger behavior.
American Airlines Flight 3023
On Saturday, July 26, 2025, American Airlines Flight 3023 was departing Denver International Airport on a short domestic flight to Miami International Airport. During takeoff, a brake system malfunction caused one of the tires to blow out and be engulfed in flames.
Following emergency protocols, pilots safely re-landed at Denver International Airport. Dense smoke could be seen across the air strip as passengers evacuated via the inflatable slide. Shortly after, the Denver Fire Department extinguished the fire without incident.
Following the brake system malfunction, one passenger was sent to the hospital with minor injuries, while four others were treated at the scene.
On Sunday, headlines hit the airwaves—and Americans had reason to once again question the state of air travel in the United States. Since then, however, the general public has spoken—and it looks like they aren’t happy with reactions from passengers fleeing the smoke-riddled Boeing airplane.
Some weren’t following emergency protocol—and many on the internet are pointing out that it could have ended in disaster.
Emergency protocol
If you watch video clips of passengers disembarking the plane, you’ll notice that many are carrying their handbags with them. While it might seem natural to grab your belongings before fleeing for your life (or even instinct for women who are used to toting along a purse), it breaks one key safety protocol: leave your belongings behind.
As keyboard warriors have noted in the comment section of many video clips, passengers who chose to carry their belongings could have compromised the safety of other passengers.
Delaying the emergency exit process, even for a few seconds, can cause longer delays down the line. In this case, passengers stuck on the plane were facing dense plumes of smoke, which can cause respiratory distress. In other words, though life-threatening danger was out of the way, other risks persisted.
In choosing to grab their bags, passengers not only delayed others, but also created potential obstacles and blocks. In a total worst-case scenario, taking a bag could even compromise safety equipment.
Consider it a reminder to leave everything behind on the plane, even if there’s no apparent life-threatening risk.
