Can you absolutely guarantee that 90 seconds from now that passengers won't deplaning into burning fuel?
IMHO it's a judgement call - one best made by the captain whilst communicating with other key players (eg RFF).
Good grief!!
This "new concept" of second guessing possible injuries from an evacuation when an entire wing is on fire must be nipped in the bud ASAP before an entire plane load of passengers dies from the shear stupidity of that concept.
The precedents being set industry wide should be a cause for serious concern and dialogue. An Allegiant Airlines captain was terminated for ordering an evacuation when there were reports of smoke in the cabin and RFF stated there was smoke coming from an engine. Safe decision by all accounts, but management did not agree.
Had this SIA crew seen the news about the Allegiant captain thus worried about the consequences of an evacuation?
I think we are all far better off with the occasional unnecessary evacuation with a few sprained ankles than the alternative analysis paralysis that could lead to a future disaster with a delayed evacuation (or decision not to evacuate) when an immediate evacuation was warranted.
Typhoonpilot