I know this does not apply to all situations; I wonder how often a passenger retrieves their bag thinking "My life-saving medications are in my bag! I'll die without them." It does not have to be Rx medications. It could be something else.

In any case, if a passenger is of the mindset they are equally screwed deboarding the aircraft without their bag as they are remaining aboard a burning jet, any attempt in getting that passenger to leave their bag would further delay the deboarding process. Convincing them otherwise is futile because perception becomes a reality.

Jeanette Isabelle