Stay seated.
In a recent incident on Pegasus Airlines, passengers were fined for standing up before the plane had come to a full stop during a flight from Sofia to Istanbul. This enforcement marks a new approach in Turkey, where passengers who violate on-board safety rules upon landing could face fines and other penalties.
The directive for this new policy was issued by Turkey’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in May 2025, following a rise in passengers disregarding basic safety rules. The DGCA warned that standing up before the engines stop could lead to fines and potential blacklisting by up to 25 airlines in Turkey. The DGCA also emphasised the need for clearer in-flight announcements to prevent such safety breaches.
The consequences of such actions include verbal warnings by crew members, potential police involvement upon landing, monetary fines, and the possibility of being blacklisted by multiple airlines for future travel violations of this safety rule. These measures aim to reinforce the importance of remaining seated until the aircraft has come to a complete stop and engines are off, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew.
This incident could set a precedent for other airlines in Turkey. However, it is unlikely that similar measures will be implemented in Russia due to the effort and administration required. The current legal framework for recording on-board offenses in Turkey is almost unique, according to Roman Gusarov, chief editor of Avia.ru.
It is worth noting that Turkish Airlines, another major airline in the country, has also announced additional measures against passengers who stand up before the seatbelt sign is off. The focus, however, should be on addressing issues like flight delays, especially in cases of massive breakdowns.
In the Pegasus Airlines incident, a verbal altercation occurred between some passengers and flight attendants after the fines were issued. The 'Fastening Seatbelts' sign was not turned off before some passengers left their seats and retrieved their hand luggage.
Turkish lawyers have warned that such passengers risk being added to Turkish Airlines' blacklist, which could impact their future travel plans. It remains to be seen how effectively these new measures will be enforced and how they will impact passenger behaviour in the long run.
- The new approach in Turkey, enforced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), could potentially extend to other industries, such as finance or transportation, where non-compliance with safety rules could result in fines and other penalties.
- The DGCA's focus on clearer in-flight announcements to prevent safety breaches in aviation might influence the lifestyle sector, where clear and concise communication is crucial for the safety and satisfaction of consumers.
- As Turkey's aviation industry implements stricter measures for on-board safety, such as blacklisting passengers who violate rules, the travel industry may follow suit, ensuring similar safety standards across various modes of transportation.
