Originally Posted by
Dr Dave
I would also point out that the most important thing is that people act quickly and effectively. Introducing uncertainty into the mind of someone close to panic is not a good idea. The last thing you want is for someone to dither when they weigh up the likelihood of prosecution. Even worse would be if people start to abandon their bags close to the exit.
This is why I don't get truly outraged when people grab bags. The last thing you want to do is think too much. If part of your instinctive deboarding process involves grabbing a bag, then at least do it really quickly and move right away. But as I noted, grabbing a bag and going down the slide only increases the personal risk of injury, even ignorant of possibly deadly effects it may have on those behind you.
Although, while this isn't the case here most likely, on a rough landing or other turbulence the overhead bins can pop open. If baggage is strewn everywhere, it is best to grab it and clear it out of the way, and the best way to do that might be to take it with you out of the plane to remove obstacles.