What action is essential as part of pushback safety?

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Securing doors before pushback is essential. When doors are closed and locked, the cabin remains protected from movement and air forces during the maneuver, and there’s no risk of a door inadvertently opening due to push forces, gusts, or pressure changes. This prevents injury to ground personnel and damage to the door or fuselage, and it ensures the aircraft is in the proper configuration to begin taxi after pushback. Other options don’t address this immediate safety need: opening overhead bins could lead to items falling and injuring someone; starting engines before pushback exposes ground crew to jet blast and is generally unsafe; and taxi lights, while helpful for visibility, are not the critical safety action required for pushback itself.