"Stay Seated!" Turkey Now Fining Passengers Who Unbuckle Too Soon
You might want to wait for the ding—unless you’re in the mood to fund a fine
Matt C
May 23, 2025
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If you’re one of those passengers who hears the wheels touch down and immediately springs up like it’s a race to the overhead bin—this one’s for you. Turkey is officially over it.
In a move applauded by flight attendants everywhere, Turkey’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has announced new penalties for passengers who unbuckle their seatbelt or stand before the aircraft has parked and the seatbelt sign is turned off. The fine? A not-so-light 2,603 Turkish Lira (about $80 USD).
The regulation applies across all Turkish carriers, and Turkish Airlines has already updated its post-landing announcements to reflect the new crackdown. In other words: sit tight and enjoy the taxi in.
According to the DGCA, complaints about premature deplaners have surged, prompting officials to inspect aircraft and—surprise, surprise—confirm that passengers are consistently ignoring the fasten seatbelt sign.
Why Now? A Wave Of Safety-Driven Changes
This isn’t just Turkey being extra. The crackdown follows a global wake-up call on in-flight safety after several high-profile turbulence events, including the tragic Singapore Airlines incident in May that left one passenger dead and dozens injured.
Singapore Airlines has since implemented new policies requiring crew to be buckled during turbulence and suspending hot drink service whenever the seatbelt sign is on. Emirates, too, is tightening its approach with AI-based turbulence prediction tools and stricter seatbelt rules.
So, Turkey’s move fits squarely in this global push to take seatbelt rules more seriously—and perhaps deter the aisle sprinters among us.
The Bottom Line
The race to the jet bridge is officially on pause—at least in Turkey. Whether this rule spreads to other countries remains to be seen, but for now, if you're flying through Istanbul or hopping around with Pegasus or AnadoluJet, consider this your final boarding call for common sense.
It might not be the news you wanted—but it's the safety briefing you needed.
Would you support similar fines in your home country, or is this taking it too far?
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