In this country, airline passengers will be fined for standing before the plane stops

In a move that's bound to make frequent flyers sit up—or rather, stay seated—Turkey has introduced a new regulation targeting a common post-landing behavior: passengers standing up and crowding the aisles before the aircraft has come to a complete stop.

Under the directive issued by the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), passengers who unbuckle their seat belts, stand up, or open overhead compartments before the plane has fully parked at the gate may face fines of up to 2,603 Turkish lira (approximately $67).

The goal of the move is to provide a smooth disembarkation procedure and improve passenger safety. The DGCA claims that moving around too soon in the cabin jeopardises not only the security of passengers and their belongings but also other passengers' enjoyment and priority to leave.

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Airlines that operate in this country, going forward, will include warnings about these possible fines in their updated in-flight safety announcements. It is the responsibility of the cabin crew to keep an eye on compliance and notify the authorities of any infractions.


Concerns regarding in-flight safety and post-landing order have reportedly increased due to an increasing number of incidents in which passengers disregard safety protocols, which is what prompted this ad. The DGCA stressed the importance of being seated and using seat belts until the aircraft has reached its final parking position and the seat belt sign has been turned off.

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This country's choice to impose direct financial sanctions for such conduct is relatively unusual, even if such behaviours are forbidden elsewhere. In the United States, for example, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that passengers correctly fasten their seat belts during taxiing, takeoff, landing, and any other time crew members instruct them to do so. However, these rules are usually only enforced while the seat belt indicator is activated.

With the enforcement of this regulation, the country is committed to aviation safety and passenger well-being. Passengers are advised to adhere to crew instructions and remain seated until it is safe to disembark, lest they find themselves facing unexpected fines upon arrival.