In some places it still happens. Around 2004 I boarded a plane with stairs in Cancun.
My wife’s Aunt and Uncle have been serial travelers for decades. One time her uncle forget his briefcase in the 80s. She convinced the counter person to get someone to take his briefcase to the taxing plane. The pilot opened the window and a maintenance guy threw him the briefcase. When the pilot handed him his briefcase he said I don’t know who you are or how you pulled this off but it’s impressive it worked. The uncle had no idea he left it until that point.
My wife’s Aunt and Uncle have been serial travelers for decades. One time her uncle forget his briefcase in the 80s. She convinced the counter person to get someone to take his briefcase to the taxing plane. The pilot opened the window and a maintenance guy threw him the briefcase. When the pilot handed him his briefcase he said I don’t know who you are or how you pulled this off but it’s impressive it worked. The uncle had no idea he left it until that point.