A recent video depicting a malfunctioning baggage carousel at a US airport has drawn negative attention to airport operations. The footage captured the carousel becoming overcrowded, causing multiple bags to pile on top of each other. In one concerning moment, a softside luggage bag was torn apart after one of its parts became entangled in the carousel. Travel content creator Joey Moawad shared the video on Instagram, expressing dismay at the situation.
In his post, Moawad remarked, “I’m often asked if it’s safe to travel to developing countries. Welcome to the US Newark airport. With 4 planes dumping bags onto one belt, I was taking a video to show the staff there’s a problem when this happened.”
This clip has gathered over 24 million views since it was posted on March 25, Monday. In the comments, many people criticised Moawad for not saving the luggage and focusing on making the video. Expressing this sentiment, an Instagram user wrote, “Smart phones with cameras have ruined our Good Samaritan instincts, we would rather get some likes online than make someone’s day better by jumping in before their suitcase got crushed.”
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Another person wrote, “I would have saved that bag. My first reaction was why aren’t you not moving the other bags to save that green bag?? If this happens to me, in another country, This would create so much issue. How people can just stand a watch?”
People also noted there are emergency stop buttons or sensors on the baggage carousel that can prevent such accidents. Making this point, an Instagram user wrote, “There is meant to be a sensor that will stop loading the belt with more bags if it has no space, clearly it’s broken.”
Another person wrote, “Last time I looked there was an emergency stop button. Instead of recording the problem…try and prevent it getting worse. Standing there recording the issue to then use as evidence when you walk away to show someone isn’t helping the situation at all. Either grab the bags and chuck them on the floor and cause a scene that makes someone come to you, or press the emergency button. It’s just common sense.”
In the comments, many people also mentioned countries where such incidents would be easily resolved. An Instagram user claimed, “Oh wow! It would not happen in Japan cos the airport assigns one staff member to position all new suitcases coming to the belt.”
What are your thoughts on this?
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