TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Every time a plane lands, the flight crew always reminds passengers to remain seated until the aircraft has come to a complete stop and the seatbelt sign is turned off. However, many passengers ignore this by standing and retrieving their belongings from the overhead compartments.
Now, this bad habit can no longer be done in Turkey. The country will impose fines on passengers who unfasten their seatbelts, leave their seats before the plane has come to a complete stop, or access the overhead compartments before being allowed to do so. The Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued the new rule earlier this month.
"Passengers who do not comply with the rules will be reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation through a disruptive passenger report, and an administrative fine will be imposed," the Turkish government said in an announcement quoted by The New York Times.
Increasing Incidents
According to a letter uploaded by the Director General of Turkey, Kemal Yuksek, in early 2025, Turkey noted a significant increase in complaints about passengers disregarding flight crew instructions and leaving their seats when the seatbelt sign is illuminated. Passengers stand in the aisle and open overhead compartments before the plane has parked, Yusek wrote in the letter, as quoted by USA Today.
The letter also included an example of announcements for flight crew upon arrival in the country, written in English. "It is strictly forbidden to stand up, open overhead compartments, or be present in the aisle before the aircraft has reached its parking position and the seatbelt sign has been turned off." The suggested announcement continues by instructing passengers to wait for the person before them to disembark before standing up.
Passengers who do not comply may be reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation through Disruptive Passenger Reports and are subject to fines. However, the amount of the fine is not yet known.
Dangers of Standing before the Plane Stops
Aside from irritating other passengers, standing in the aisle before the aircraft completely stops can be dangerous for passenger safety. Passengers can fall if the plane suddenly stops. Carry-on items may fall from the overhead bins if opened while the plane is still in motion and injure passengers. The aisle should also remain clear for emergency evacuations.
According to a report by the International Air Transport Association, a global airline trade group, non-compliance with flight attendants' instructions was the most common type of passenger behavior in 2023. Additionally, flight attendants also faced violence, harassment, verbal abuse, smoking, and unruly behavior. These incidents can pose safety and security issues and operational disruptions that incur additional costs for airlines, the report said.
In the United States, not following crew instructions or engaging in disruptive or unruly behavior can also result in fines. The Federal Aviation Administration may propose fines of up to $37,000 per violation and the possibility of imprisonment. More serious cases are referred to the F.B.I.
In 2021, 5,973 incidents of unruly passengers were reported to the Federal Aviation Administration. After the implementation of fines, the number of incidents decreased to 2,076 reports.
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