Travelers penalized onboard Pegasus aircraft departing Sofia, Türkiye, for prematurely rising from their seats
New Aviation Safety Regulations Enforced on Turkish Airlines: Passengers Fined for Standing Up Prematurely
In a bid to reinforce compliance among passengers, Turkish Airlines has implemented new measures to enforce penalties for non-compliant passengers on its domestic routes. This comes in response to a growing trend of passengers violating basic in-flight safety rules, as warned by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of Türkiye.
The new regulations were put into action following a circular sent out by the DGCA in May 2025, which mandated clearer in-flight announcements to ensure passengers understand the risks and comply with safety rules. According to the directive, passengers standing up before the engines stop can now be fined and potentially blacklisted by up to 25 airlines operating in Türkiye.
Recently, at least three female passengers were fined on Pegasus Airlines flight PC272 from Sofia to Istanbul for standing up before the aircraft engines had come to a complete stop. Despite verbal warnings from the cabin crew, the passengers ignored the instructions, prompting the crew to call the police upon landing at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
Flight attendants on Turkish Airlines routes have resorted to calling the police onboard when passengers fail to comply. The incident on Pegasus Airlines flight PC272 was captured on video and shared by the Turkish aviation news platform HavaSosyalMedia.
The cabin crew made announcements in both Turkish and English asking passengers to remain seated until the engines were fully shut off. However, some passengers disregarded these warnings, leading to the new enforcement policy being put into action.
The fines issued to non-compliant passengers on Turkish Airlines routes are a result of this new enforcement policy. The DGCA has reported an increase in incidents involving passengers attempting to smoke or move about the cabin before it is safe, emphasising the need for stricter enforcement of in-flight safety rules.
This reflects wider efforts in Turkish civil aviation to clamp down on unruly passenger behavior to maintain safety standards. While unrelated airline incidents show other types of disruptive passenger conduct (e.g., vaping, physical altercations on other airlines), the specific regulations for Pegasus flights focus on violations of seating and movement rules tied to engine shutdowns and landing protocol.
In summary, penalties now include fines and possible blacklisting for passengers flying on Pegasus Airlines from Sofia to Istanbul who stand up too early or otherwise disobey in-flight safety rules under Turkish aviation law implemented in 2025. Passengers are advised to comply with all safety instructions to ensure a smooth and safe journey.
Travelers visiting Istanbul may want to be mindful of new aviation safety regulations enforced in Türkiye, particularly on Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines. Non-compliant passengers, such as those standing up before the engines have fully stopped, can now be fined and potentially blacklisted by up to 25 airlines operating in Türkiye. This lifestyle change in travel behavior, as a result of the new regulations, aims to maintain safety standards and improve in-flight conduct for all passengers.
