Qantas blamed as passengers took to emergency slides with bags

An ATSB investigation has criticised Qantas’s safety video after passengers escaping a smoke-filled cabin took to the emergency slides while carrying their hand luggage. It came following a safety incident in 2019 that saw a “haze” form in the cabin after an A330 returned back to Sydney due to a hydraulic leak. The report also suggested cabin crew, who had detected an “unusual smell” upon landing, failed to pass that information on to the flight crew. Qantas said in response it now provides additional training for pilots and cabin crew in responding to similar situations, and also updated its safety video. “The ATSB found limitations and inconsistencies in how Qantas’s safety video and briefing card described emergency slide use and what to do with cabin baggage in an emergency,” said ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell. “For example, the pre-flight video showed a passenger sitting down and placing their bag next to them, just prior to sliding. “The management of passengers in an emergency situation is the last line of defence to avoid injuries and fatalities, so it is important passengers are well informed through the provision of sufficient and accurate communication about what they may be required to do.”<br/>