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The Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation has warned passengers not to unbuckle, stand or open overhead bins while the plane is still moving.
If someone is standing, the plane can’t move towards the gate as scheduled. (Representative Image/Unsplash)
If you’re flying to Turkey, be careful about when you stand up after landing. Getting up too early, before the plane stops and the seatbelt sign is off, can lead to a hefty fine. The Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Kemal Yuksek, has warned passengers not to unbuckle, stand or open overhead bins while the plane is still moving. This rule also applies to those who try to walk in the aisle before it’s their turn to leave the aircraft. The new warning comes after passengers were found ignoring safety rules. While the exact amount of the fine wasn’t mentioned, a local news portal claimed that it could be around 2,603 Turkish lira (approximately Rs 5,000).
As per the statement, “Based on written and verbal complaints from passengers and inspections carried out by our Directorate, it has been observed that despite announcements being made, many passengers stand up, walk into the aisle, open overhead bins and move around during taxiing after landing, before the plane reaches its parking position and before the seat belt sign is turned off. These actions risk both personal and overall cabin safety and show disregard for the safety and comfort of others. Passengers who unbuckle their seat belts and stand up before the seat belt sign is turned off may be fined by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.”
The notice also says that airlines must quickly update their cabin crew instruction books. These updates should include new announcements that need to be told to passengers before the flight begins, on board and after it reaches the destinations.
According to the statement, the announcement says “Dear passengers, our aircraft has not yet reached its parking position. 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. After the aircraft reaches the parking position and the seatbelt sign is turned off, please respect the disembarkation priority of the passengers in front of or around you and wait for your turn. Do not stand up or proceed in the aisle before it is your turn to exit. 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 in accordance with the applicable legal regulations.”
In a 2019 interview with The Washington Post, Jennifer ‘Jaki’ Johnson, CEO and founder of Jetsetter Chic shared that when passengers get up too early while the plane is still moving towards the gate, “It is a safety issue.” Flight attendants are required to inform the pilot if anyone stands before the plane stops. If someone is standing, the plane can’t move towards the gate as scheduled. The crew has to wait until everyone sits down again. This delay affects not only safety but also other passengers who may have connecting flights and need to get off quickly. That’s why staying seated until the plane fully stops is very important.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
- First Published:
