If a passenger boarded a plane, but got off before it took off, would his luggage be removed before it flew?

I got that exact situation in the early 1980's - well before the days of security paranoia -

I was then a 727 captain with Pan Am, based JFK -

My flight that day was scheduled flight JFK to Curaçao in the morning, back in late afternoon -

In other terms, easy flight, 99% passengers were winter season tourists -

The plane was 727-235 charter configuration (high density seating) with 179 Y class seats -

We had, I recall, 176 passengers -

Cockpit crew of 3 (co-pilot + flight engineer) and 5 flight attendants -

Flight time 4 hours to go, 4 hours to come back right at total 8 hours -

We had a 3 hour break (stopover) of 3 hours in Curaçao (CUR), total duty time 11 hours -

The limit duty time for that crew was 12 hours - or we would require a rest in hotel -

Boarding the passengers for the way back -

Among them a couple, having an argument (according to what flight attendants said) -

Started engines and taxi "on time" for takeoff -

The purser called the cockpit... "we got violent argument here in the rear of cabin"

"A guy and his wife yelling at each other, he wants to get off the plane..."

I sent the flight engineer to solve the problem, advised CUR tower of the takeoff delay -

Unable to quiet the argument, we informed the passenger we would have his bags OFF -

What if the guy really hated his wife, and placed a bomb in her bags...?

We taxied back to the ramp, got airport staff and security around the airplane -

All passengers deplaned through the tail stairs -

We got the airport staff unload all the bags off the belly, and lined them up on the side -

Each passenger had to identify his/her bags, and carry the bag back to the airplane -

The lady involved in the argument bags, were inspected ("if any bomb") -

All that took us 2 hours 30 minutes delay -

No need to tell you passengers opinion about the idiot who had an argument with his wife -

And... at the end of this saga, the couple RECONCILED -

Ok, all the bags back in the baggage compartment, passengers seated back -

New flight plan, new clearance, the flight attendants unhappy about delay for rest -

JFK operations was asking us if we wanted to fly, or take a rest in hotel (duty time limit) -

In agreement with the rest of crew, and to have passengers satisfied, l decided to go -

If we took the required crew rest - 10 hours, the passengers would have rioted -

We landed back at JFK at 21:00 hrs local time... nearly 4 hours later than scheduled -

There were some 174 passengers on board who were close to murder a certain passenger...!

And probably 5 flight attendants with equal romantic (!) sentiments -

This baggage safety procedure has existed since the 1960's with all airlines -

No need to tell you the passengers all considered Pan Am the worst airline of the planet...

They never would say that we took care of their safety -

What are the latest regulations about luggage?

The passengers luggage is also removed from the plane.

Would the plane fly with it on board, or would it have to be removed?

Answered above

Would the person get into serious trouble?

They might. Depends why they got off the plane.

You DO NOT have to fly and can get off before the plane takes off.

Just being a jerk wanting to delay things is not the same as having a panic attack or receiving notice of some family emergency you need to deal with.

The passenger can expect some questioning and a search of their luggage before they can leave the Airport. The delay time will depend on their reasons WHY they want off the plane.

For frivolous ones the delay may include some time in custody. The Airline could and have sued disruptive passengers for their costs. It adds up fast for large planes Hundreds of Dollars per minute.

I have been on a plane when a passenger didn't show up to board after checking their luggage. We sat there for quite some time while they went through the luggage and pulled his off. I have heard from airline staff that it sometimes happens that someone is sitting in the bar and forgets about the time. It delays all the other passengers. I don't know what happens to the person who didn't board, but I imagine there's some kind of penalty.

I'm working on a piece of fiction, one moment of which may involve a character boarding a plane, but deciding to get off.

What are the latest regulations about luggage?

Would the plane fly with it on board, or would it have to be removed?

Would the person get into serious trouble?

That's what potential terrorists used to do. However, today, if you boarded a plane and requested to get off, the police would be called. Yes, your luggage would be removed and the flight would be held up. It is very suspicious for someone to board a plane and suddenly decide not to fly. They would be questioned by the police and probably the FBI.

Yes luggage is removed

A couple of years ago I was on a plane that had just started to taxi when a female passanger passed out. We returned to the gate and had to wait forEMTs to remove her and for baggage handlers to get her luggage

Yes.

Every piece of luggage in the cargo hold of the aircraft has to correspond to the passengers on board the aircraft.

In the event a passenger does not show up at the gate, but has checked-in his bags, the cargo personnel would have to identify the container and remove the passenger's bags before the aircraft is allowed to push and start.

Yes, the luggage would have to be removed as that would be considered a sign that perhaps a bomb may have been smuggled into the plane.

And yes, the delays caused by this would be billed to the passenger.

Actually if you have the boarding pass then, you definitely have some strong reason to leave flight. So the airlines do nothing with your luggage. You can retain your luggage with you.

First you have to be able to justify why your person is leaving the aircraft after boarding. That typically is not allowed. But if it was, yes the ground crew would have to go through the luggage compartment and find any checked bag for the person. There would be huge delays. TSA would get involved and may require the entire aircraft to be searched, having all passengers and all bags pulled from the aircraft and re screened. carryon luggage would be searched as well.