A bi-directional egress hatch for a passenger aircraft may allow passengers to rapidly and safely exit an overhead cabin of the aircraft onto the main deck, while allowing cabin crew to safely ascend into the overhead cabin if need be. Hatch panels may blend in with overhead bin doors and ceiling panels of the main cabin; the inner portions of the hatch panels (facing the overhead cabin) may include anti-skid portions and graspable handles for descending passengers. The hatch may be easily activated by a passenger with a single motion (or remotely activated, or autodeployed). Once activated, the hatch panels may swing open and a telescoping ladder may deploy from the inner portion to the main deck, remaining rigid once reaching the floor. Similarly, any barriers protecting the ladder from passengers in the overhead cabin may be released, granting access to the telescoping ladder.