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Airlines may introduce new in flight overhead lockers rules
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned that “draconian” measures, including locking overhead bins, may be necessary to prevent travellers from retrieving luggage during evacuations.
Efforts to collect bags during emergencies can delay evacuations and risk passenger safety, the organisation said.
Aircraft must be capable of being evacuated within 90 seconds, according to IATA.
IATA has launched a campaign called “Save A Life, Not A Bag” urging travellers to leave belongings behind during evacuations.
The campaign was created in response to an increasing number of incidents where passengers attempted to retrieve bags during emergencies, or even stopped to take photos.
Nick Careen, senior vice president of operations, safety, and security at IATA, said: “If we do not see the type of behaviour changes that we’re expecting, then we will have to be a little more draconian which could be penalties and could be something as simple as a hard locking mechanism on the overhead bin.
“Penalties are somewhat effective but unless they are implemented on a consistent basis then they lose their effectiveness.”
IATA’s campaign is supported by safety bodies including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The group also commissioned a survey of passengers in the UK, US, UAE and Singapore, which found that while 80% believed they knew what to do in an emergency evacuation, only 61% correctly identified that they should leave all personal items behind.
The issue has real and potentially deadly consequences, said IATA’s director general Willie Walsh.
Mr Walsh said: “Taking bags during an evacuation is not a minor issue.
“Every second matters.
“Even taking one bag can affect the safe evacuation of everyone onboard.
“Crew instructions are clear and simple: leave everything behind and move quickly.
“‘Save A Life, Not A Bag’, is a message that passengers need to understand and act upon.”
EASA’s executive director Florian Guillermet explained why rapid, unobstructed evacuation is essential.
Mr Guillermet said: “Rapid evacuation in an emergency situation saves lives.
“Aircraft are certified to stringent evacuation standards and crews are trained extensively for emergency situations, to make sure every single passenger has the best possible chance of survival in an acute situation.
“For this to work in a real emergency, all passengers must play their part too.
“And it is very simple: follow crew instructions, leave all baggage behind and move quickly to the nearest usable exit.
“Not only will this save your life, but you will have done your very best to allow everyone to get out of danger.”
FAA administrator Bryan Bedford highlighted the rise in non-compliance during emergencies.
Mr Bedford said: “We’re seeing an increasing number of passengers not following flight crew instructions during emergencies.
“In those moments, compliance is critical.
“Passengers must act quickly, follow instructions without hesitation, and leave all belongings behind.
“Safety is a shared responsibility, and informed, attentive passengers help ensure a faster, safer evacuation for everyone on board.”
Mr Careen believes that while most people have some understanding of evacuation protocol, it is often incomplete.
He said: “The majority of passengers know what to do in an accident.
“There is, however, a significant gap in knowledge among some travellers that could result in disaster.
“Even just a passenger or two taking a few extra seconds to gather personal items can endanger lives.
“That is why it’s essential to build good habits for all travellers, like paying attention to safety demonstrations each time and keeping essential items, such as passport, money, and medication on person.
“It is also important that passengers understand the consequences of not listening to the crew.
“‘Save A Life, Not A Bag’, is meant to be a blunt reminder of what is at stake for everyone in the rare event of an evacuation.”
The UK’s Met Office has revealed the storm names for 2026/27, selected from more than 40,000 public suggestions.
The scheme is run in partnership with Met Eireann in Ireland and KNMI in the Netherlands, and the list starts each year in September to reflect the beginning of the autumn storm season.
This storm season includes names such as Austen, Boelo and Chloe and each has a story behind its nomination.
Staying safe during a thunderstorm
Names were submitted in honour of children, pets and even characters like Shaun the Sheep, as well as in memory of loved ones and meteorological trailblazers.
Under naming conventions used for storms in the North Atlantic, the list runs alphabetically, missing out Q, U, X, Y and Z.
Chloe, the third name on the list this year, was nominated more than 120 times.
One suggestion came from the mother of a five-year-old described as being “fascinated by the weather” who can also “create a storm by herself” when tired.
Other names have similarly personal backstories.
Finn was put forward for a two-year-old described as “wild and a force to be reckoned with”, while Ivy was nominated in honour of a nine-month-old Labrador puppy affectionately called “the absolute destructor”.
Nicola was suggested as a tribute to a mother who has “weathered many a storm and only come out stronger”.
Some names reflect a wider cultural reach.
Shaun, selected following a public vote, was included as part of a collaboration with Aardman, the studio behind Wallace and Gromit, to help raise awareness of storm preparedness.
Scattered showers moving eastwards this afternoon, some heavy and perhaps thundery ☔
Turning drier and fresher in the west, with sunny spells ⛅
Cloud and rain returning to the northwest later 🌧️ pic.twitter.com/0s2Je7rraP
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 31, 2026
The list also honours figures in meteorological history.
Met Eireann chose Austen in tribute to Austen Nagle, the first director of the Irish Meteorological Service as it marks its 90th anniversary.
Evelyn was selected in honour of Evelyn Murphy, the first woman to present weather forecasts on Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTE.
Why are storms named?
The scheme began in 2015 and aims to improve public awareness and response in the face of severe weather.
Last year, four names were used from the list, reaching Storm Dave in April.
The UK was also affected by three additional storms named by other European meteorological services: Benjamin, Claudia and Goretti.
The Met Office said names are reviewed for pronunciation, potential meanings across different languages, connections to public figures and any risk of controversy.
When is a storm named?
A storm is named when it’s expected to cause medium or high impacts in the UK, Ireland or the Netherlands.
Wind is the primary consideration, but significant effects from rain or snow are also taken into account.
Met Office confirms storm names for 2026/27
This year’s names, and the country they came from, are:
- Austen (Ireland)
- Boelo (pronounced Boo-loh) (Netherlands)
- Chloe (UK)
- Dano (pronounced Dah-noh) (Netherlands)
- Evelyn (Ireland)
- Finn (UK)
- Gwendolyn (Netherlands)
- Heather (Ireland)
- Ivy (UK)
- Jade (Netherlands)
- Kilian (Ireland)
- Laoise (pronounced Lee-sha) (Ireland)
- Miriam (Ireland)
- Nicola (UK)
- Olaf (Netherlands)
- Phelim (Fay-lim) (Ireland)
- Ruban (UK)
- Shaun (UK)
- Theo (UK)
- Vesna (Vehs-nuh) (Netherlands)
- Wende (Vhen-duh) (Netherlands)
Holly Clements, Met Office head of warnings and guidance, said: “For more than a decade, storm naming has helped us communicate the risks from severe weather more effectively.
“A named storm provides a clear focus for forecasts and warnings, helping more people understand the potential impacts and take action to protect themselves, their families and their property.”
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Eoin Sherlock, Met Eireann head of forecasting division, said: “We know that naming storms makes it easier for people to track important and up-to-date forecast and safety-related information as we can see from the levels of traffic and activity through our website and across social media platforms during storm events.
“2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Irish Meteorological Service and we are proud to be able to recognise some of the significant contributors to our history in the list of storm names this year.”
Which names would you add to the list of storm names? Let us know in the comments below.
Charlie Matthews appeared at Oxford Crown Court on August 27.
The 25-year-old is charged with two counts of rape.
The allegations are said to have taken place in Oxford in April and October 2021.
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The complainant for both counts is the same woman.
Matthews, of Langney Road, Eastbourne, pleaded not guilty to both counts.
A trial date, with a time estimate of four to five days, was set for August 21, 2028.
Judge Ian Pringle KC said that this is some seven years after the offences are alleged to have taken place.
The judge said: “Unfortunately, that’s the situation.”
Matthews was released on bail, with the condition not to contact the complainant.
Islandfarm Viscount is a 13-year-old gelding from Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell near Wallingford.
He took the top title at the 2026 Donkey Breed Society National Championship Show, held on August 22 at Pickering Grange Equestrian Centre in Coalville.
He is the offspring of East Lodge Bryony, a donkey left to the sanctuary by the late Alex and Sue Horn.
Mr Horn was a respected figure in donkey showing and won numerous awards during his lifetime.
Viscount has built an impressive record of his own, with championship wins at the Mid Somerset Show and the New Forest and Hampshire Show.
He was named Reserve Champion at the Ellingham and Ringwood Show, placing just behind stablemate Perehill Magical Moments.
Both donkeys qualified for the national finals, where Viscount claimed the Senior Gelding Class and went on to be named British Champion Gelding for the fifth year in a row.
He then competed against other class winners and took home the Supreme Champion title and trophy.
Perehill Magical Moments earned her place at the finals after wins at the Heckinton Show and Ellingham and Ringwood.
At the national event, she won the Senior Mare class and was named Reserve Mare Champion.
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