Air passengers who unbuckle seat belts too early for a quick exit from plane face fines

Air passengers in Turkey who unbuckle their seat belts and step out into the aisle too early after a plane lands face fines under a new regulation issued by the country’s aviation authority.

The law, which came into effect at the beginning of May, is an effort to clamp down on passengers trying to beat the queue to get off an aeroplane by unbuckling, grabbing their bags and making for the exit before the captain turns off the seat belt sign.

The directorate general of Turkey’s civil aviation authority says it has received complaints of people breaking this rule and confirmed in on-board inspections that many passengers are not complying.

The regulation itself does not specify the amount of the fine, but Turkish broadcaster Halk TV reports that it is 2,603 lira – around US$67.

Aviation law in many countries forbids passengers from unbuckling and getting up while the fasten seat belt sign is on – even after landing and when the plane is safely taxiing to the gate. But in practice offenders are rarely fined.