Turkey cracks down on flyers who stand up too soon, threatening fines

“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,” the Turkish government said in an announcement. It did not say how much passengers might be fined.

Turkish Airlines did not respond to a request for comment about how many times this rule had been enforced since its implementation in early May.

In addition to potentially rankling others on the plane, safety issues can arise when passengers leave their seats prematurely. Passengers can fall if the plane makes a sudden stop, and luggage can fall from overhead bins if they are opened while the aircraft is still moving. Aisles also need to remain clear for emergency evacuations.

According to a report by the International Air Transport Association, a global airline trade group, failure to comply with instructions from flight attendants was the most frequent type of unruly passenger behavior in 2023. Flight attendants have also dealt with violence against themselves and other passengers, harassment, verbal abuse, smoking and forms of riotous behavior. These incidents can cause safety and security issues as well as significant operational disruption and costs for airlines, the report said.

In the United States, failing to follow crew instructions or engaging in disruptive or violent behavior can also lead to fines. The Federal Aviation Administration can propose fines of up to $37,000 per violation and possible jail time. More serious cases are referred to the FBI.

Unruly passenger behavior surged in the United States during the pandemic, stemming largely from passengers’ refusal to wear masks. A 2021 national survey conducted by the Association of Flight Attendants union revealed that nearly all flight attendants had dealt with unruly passengers that year, and 1 in 5 had been attacked.

That year, the FAA started pursuing legal action instead of just issuing warning letters to passengers who assault, threaten, intimidate or interfere with airline crew members. Last year, the agency reported just over 2,000 incidents, about the same number as in 2023 and a sharp fall from 2021, when nearly 6,000 incidents were reported.