BA777 on fire in Las Vegas
Possibly a simple quick, cheap, fix might be to propagate the idea, via in-flight announcements and other avenues [ ?? at check-in] for passengers to keep passports cash and items of crucial importance on their person at all times.
"Sir, Madam, we insist you keep your vital "stuff" on your person at all times during the flight as, in an emergency, access to the overhead lockers is not permitted/prohibited/unavailable etc".....
I wonder if those scrambling for hand-baggage aren't often just grabbing their vital stuff?
Being stuck anywhere in the States without a passport is a nightmare.