Is it only high heeled shoes that need to be removed in an emergency landing?

Question

It is made clear in airline safety instructions that high heeled shoes need to be removed in an emergency landing, but I have heard conflicting information about whether or not everybody has to remove their shoes, regardless of whether they have heels or not.

I suppose in an emergency, the cabin staff do not have time to check people's shoes and it might be easier jsut to make everybody take their shoes off.

Does it vary with airlines?

Answer 1

The Airline Corporation I work for used to require that your shoes be removed at your seat prior to evacuation in a "planned" emergency. This is when you know there is a problem and you have a given amount of time to prepare for it.
In an unplanned emergency, such as when you are landing and something goes wrong without any previous indication of a mechanical problem, it was part of the evacuation commands Flight Attendants gave the passengers during the evacuation.
Part of the command was, "Remove shoes-don't take anything with you."
In 1997, my Company eliminated the "remove shoes" line from the evacuation command as they found in the incidences they had, it only slowed down the evacuation and they also took into consideration the fact that that the skins of those slides are pretty tough.
It was difficult getting people out of an aircraft quickly with everyone stopping to take off their shoes, or if they didn't take them off at their seat, they were kicking them off at the door before jumping down the slide. That would be a pretty big pile of Hush Puppies on a big jet.
I'm sure they also factored in the possibility of foot injuries on the tarmac with what could be upwards of 200 people walkng around outside on a runway.
And to be honest, it's pretty rare that you see many women traveling in high heeled shoes any more.
I am unaware of the uniformity of this evacuation command at other airlines. I believe that at one time it used to be pretty standard throughout the industry.

Answer 2

Shoes are to be removed during emergency landings for a very good reason. In the event of an emergency landing, a chute will be deployed from the exits to the ground, these chutes are inlfatable and as such could be punctured by high heels, umbrellas etc. That is why you are asked to remove you high heels, so that everyone can get a chance to escape . You are asked to remove them before the landing as once the plane has landed every second is vital to be able to get all of the passengers off the plane before it catches fire etc. You will find the same instructions on fast cats which carry passengers across the water.

Answer 3

In an emergency, you are asked to remove high-heeled shoes because you may be asked to jump from the wing down to the ground. Wearing high-heeled shoes could result in broken bones or sprained ankles that would otherwise not happen.

Wearing shoes in an emergency seems like a good isea due to the possibility of stepping on broken glass, sharm metal edges, etc. Because of that, nobody would ever ask you to remove your shoes in a real emergency. It is simply asked that if you are going to jump 10 feet to the ground you employ a little common sense and remove high heels.

A better idea is to fly in comfortable shoes that would allow you to wear them during a cabin evacuation. Think about this: When was the last time you saw a flight attendant wearing high heels?

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Answer 5

High heeled shoes must be removed because if the escape chute was activated on landing, the heel may puncture it and it would, obviously, then deflate, possible trapping passengers on board. Perhaps the same could be said for shoes with buckles etc, therefore I plump for removal of all shoes - you can still carry them in your hands etc. then replace them when on the ground.

Answer 6

The answer which says that high heels can damage the emergency chute is correct.

It is only high heels which need to be removed.

Also, remember that the emergency chute also doubles as a life-raftin the event of a successful(!) ditching, so if it was punctured there would be further problems.

Answer 7

Yes only high heeled shoes, not only to prevent ripping the slide but upon reaching the bottom of the slide you need to get up & run too!

Besides the slide is pretty tough you would break your heal or sprain it before you could actually puncture it!

Answer 8

All shoes, false teeth and contact lenses are supposed to be taken off in an emergency on a 'plane. They ask everyone to take off their shoes so that the emergency chute is not damaged.

Answer 9

I flew with First Choice last Friday and in their safety speech they said heels had to be removed if the inflatable slides were deployed, I suppose it makes sense, you don't want some princess bursting it do you? They also said you'd have to remove your glasses if you were wearing them. I imagine for the same reason, if they fell off and broke they'd puncture the slide.

Answer 10

I have never heard of that i could understand it becuase they dont what them to get stuck in the emergency slide because it could rip them and break your leg. also if you are other wise ok and trying to run off the plain and trip and break your ankle that means someone else has to take cair of you to make sure you get off so it will take more time and put others in danger. those are the only reasons i can see that they would tell you to take them off, i really dont think the flight crew would be making sure every one has taken them off.