Passengers flying into Turkey may want to think twice before jumping out of their seats as soon as the plane touches down. Under new aviation rules, travelers who unbuckle their seat belts, step into the aisle, or open overhead bins before the aircraft has come to a complete stop may now face fines of up to $70—or roughly AED 250.
The updated regulation, announced by the Turkish Directorate of Civil Aviation, aims to curb the growing number of post-landing violations that threaten onboard safety. Airlines operating in Turkey are now required to update their in-flight safety announcements, warning passengers that such violations will be documented and may lead to penalties.
“Despite announcements informing passengers of the rules, many are standing up before the aircraft reaches its parking positions and before the seat belt sign is turned off,” the agency said in a statement. It called the behavior both a safety risk and a disruption to passenger order.
The fine—although relatively small—stands out as an unusual move in global aviation enforcement. While countries like the U.S. require passengers to stay seated with seat belts fastened during taxiing, enforcement rarely includes financial penalties unless linked with other disruptive behavior.
The new policy, in effect since earlier this month, has yet to be tested in terms of actual fines issued. Still, the message is clear: Turkey is taking a firmer stance against the often-ignored rule to stay seated until the plane fully stops at the gate.
