<figure id="attachment_3076483" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3076483" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3076483" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/8ce4b4c0-plane-passenger-envato-elements-040625-2.webp" alt="plane passenger" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3076483" class="wp-caption-text">The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia advises airplane passengers to remain in their seats whenever the seatbelt indicator light is on, saying it will minimise the risk of injury and prevent disruption to crew operations. (Envato Elements pic)</figcaption></figure>
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s aviation regulator sees no need to emulate Turkey in issuing fines to passengers who stand before an airplane comes to a halt without waiting for the seatbelt indicator light to be turned off.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said most passengers entering Malaysia generally obey existing seatbelt regulations, adding that it had not received complaints or reports of the issue so far.
It nonetheless reminded passengers to remain in their seats whenever the seatbelt indicator light is turned on, even when the aircraft is taxiing, to minimise the risk of injury and prevent disruptions to cabin crew operations.
“For now, there is no need to have this enforced by law as it is still manageable. Malaysians generally obey this flight safety requirement. Although there are remote cases, this is not a major concern,” CAAM told FMT.
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Last week, Turkey’s aviation authority announced plans to fine passengers who stand as soon as a plane lands without waiting for the seatbelt indicator light to be turned off, following multiple complaints from travellers.
It said there was a “serious increase” in complaints that some passengers were standing up to grab their bags in the overhead compartment before the plane had come to a stop.
It also ordered airlines to announce the new ruling on all flights and report passengers who flout it.
The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) expressed support for the introduction of a similar ruling here, saying some passengers tend to ignore the seatbelt indicator, even in mid-flight, putting their own safety at risk.
Nonetheless, Nufam president Ismail Nasaruddin said the final decision on the matter rests with CAAM.
“Only CAAM can impose such a law or policy. If there are too many safety violations, I think it will be mandated by our local airlines. But it all depends if there are complaints received.”

MatchPoint Times

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