STAND OFF - Flight Crew Forced To Call Police Over Passengers That Refused To Sit Down

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This is the moment a flight attendant has a nerve-wracking standoff with several passengers who refuse to sit down while the plane is still taxiing after landing until she is forced to call the police.

The incident took place on a Pegasus Airlines flight from the Bulgarian capital of Sofia to Istanbul, Turkey, on 31st July.

Video footage from inside the aircraft shows at least three female passengers standing in the aisle while cabin crew repeatedly instructed them in both Turkish and English to sit down and fasten their seatbelts until the aircraft had reached its parking position and the engines were shut off.

Despite the warnings, the passengers remained standing and began disrupting the cabin, prompting the captain to alert the authorities.

After the plane arrived at its designated parking spot at Sabiha Gokcen Airport, police officers boarded the aircraft and initiated legal proceedings against those involved under new civil aviation safety rules.

The passengers were cited for violating safety procedures as "illegal passengers", and fines may be imposed under a regulation introduced on 2nd May by Turkey's Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The directive allows for administrative penalties against anyone who stands before the seatbelt warning light is turned off.

Authorities reiterated that such behaviour posed a risk to safety and would not be tolerated.

(Mike Leidig / newsX)

NewsX-PassDash-01.jpg
Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Flight attendant warns standing passengers to take their seats on a Pegasus Airlines flight from Sofia to Istanbul, Turkey, July 31, 2025. Police implemented an illegal passenger procedure against the passengers who ignored the flight attendant's warnings and caused a disturbance. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(Newsflash/NX)

NewsX-PassDash-02.jpg
Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Flight attendant warns standing passengers to take their seats on a Pegasus Airlines flight from Sofia to Istanbul, Turkey, July 31, 2025. Police implemented an illegal passenger procedure against the passengers who ignored the flight attendant's warnings and caused a disturbance. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(Newsflash/NX)

NewsX-PassDash-03.jpg
Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Flight attendant warns standing passengers to take their seats on a Pegasus Airlines flight from Sofia to Istanbul, Turkey, July 31, 2025. Police implemented an illegal passenger procedure against the passengers who ignored the flight attendant's warnings and caused a disturbance. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(Newsflash/NX)

Byline Journalist: Mike Leidig

Byline Sub editor: Simona Kitanovska

Byline Spotter: Mike Leidig

Byline Commisioning Editor: Mike Leidig

Byline Senior Writer: Mike Leidig

Byline Picture Editor: Zorica Stojkovik

Byline Video Editor: David Stojkovic

Byline Copychecker: Angela Trajkovska

Byline Illustrator: Angela Trajkovska

Byline News Editor: Mike Leidig

Geography: Sabiha_Gökçen_International_Airport

Subject: Aviation, Planes, People

T4 Editor Story Rating: 6

T4 Editor Pic/Vid rating: 8

T4 Total rating: 7