Passengers who unbuckle before the plane stops could face fines
FILE - A row of empty airplane seats. Getty Images
A new aviation rule is changing the way some passengers disembark in a popular tourist destination.
No unbuckling plane seatbelt
Big picture view:
Turkish authorities say airline passengers who unbuckle their seat belts, access overhead compartments, or occupy the aisle before their plane has fully stopped now face fines under new regulations.
By the numbers:
The circular does not say how much passengers who disregard the regulations could be fined, but Turkish media reports have said fines of up to $70 will be imposed.
The backstory:
It is not unusual in Turkey for passengers to stand up or move inside the cabin soon after the plane has landed, often leading to chaotic disembarkation, the Associated Press reported.
The Turkish aviation authority issued the updated rules following passenger complaints and flight inspections indicating a growing number of safety violations, according to the Turkish Directorate of Civil Aviation.
What they're saying:
"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 aviation authority noted.
"This behavior compromises the safety of passengers and baggage, disregards the satisfaction and exit priority of other travelers," it said.
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FAA plane seatbelt regulation
Big picture view:
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration requires all passengers and crew members to wear seat belts during taxi, takeoff and landing.
Failure to do so could result in being considered an unruly passenger. Unruly passenger behavior could result in jail time, thousands of dollars in fines and travel restrictions.
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Dig deeper:
Unruly passenger incidents have also been on the rise in the U.S., the FAA states.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from the Turkish Directorate of Civil Aviation, as reported by The Associated Press. Information about aviation seatbelt regulations in the U.S. was taken from the FAA. This story was reported from Detroit.