A disagreement over an assigned seat aboard a SunExpress (XQ) flight ended with a passenger being arrested after landing in Germany. Authorities say the man allegedly punched a flight attendant after refusing to sit next to a female passenger during the June 1, 2026, service from Samsun (SZF) to Dusseldorf (DUS).
The 29-year-old, a German resident of Turkish descent, later admitted striking the crew member. He now faces an additional criminal allegation after reportedly insulting German Federal Police officers in Turkish, unaware that one of them understood the language.
Mid-Flight Dispute Escalates
The incident occurred on a SunExpress flight connecting Samsun with Dusseldorf. The airline, jointly owned by Lufthansa (LH) and Turkish Airlines (TK), operates an extensive leisure network between Türkiye and Europe.
According to German media reports later cited by aviation outlet OMAAT, the passenger objected to his assigned seat because it was beside a woman. He reportedly argued that sitting next to an unrelated woman conflicted with his interpretation of Sharia law.
When cabin crew attempted to address the situation, the passenger allegedly struck a flight attendant in the face, turning the seating disagreement into a criminal matter.
Different Interpretations of the Religious Rule
The passenger reportedly based his objection on an interpretation of Sharia law that discourages unnecessary physical interaction between unrelated men and women, including accidental contact that may occur while seated side by side.
However, interpretations vary considerably, and many Muslims who observe similar religious principles do not consider sitting next to a passenger of the opposite sex on a commercial flight to violate those beliefs.
Passengers wishing to avoid such seating arrangements can purchase an additional seat through SunExpress, providing extra space without affecting other travelers or requiring crew intervention.
Police Action After Landing
German Federal Police met the aircraft shortly before 7 a.m. after it arrived in Dusseldorf.
Authorities filed a criminal complaint, and the passenger admitted assaulting the flight attendant during questioning.
The situation worsened when the man allegedly directed insults at the officers in Turkish, apparently believing they would not understand him. One officer, however, spoke Turkish, resulting in an additional charge.
Under German law, insulting public officials can constitute a criminal offence and may carry the possibility of imprisonment.
Unanswered Questions
One aspect of the incident remains unresolved.
Available reports do not explain why the seating objection only became an issue after the flight had departed from Samsun.
Had the concern been raised before takeoff, the airline could potentially have addressed the issue on the ground, including removing the passenger from the flight if necessary. Publicly available accounts have not clarified why the confrontation unfolded only after the aircraft was airborne.
Bottom Line
What began as a disagreement over seating arrangements ultimately resulted in allegations of assault against a cabin crew member and a second criminal charge after the aircraft arrived in Germany.
The passenger now faces legal proceedings over both the alleged attack and the reported insults directed at German Federal Police officers, while the circumstances that allowed the dispute to escalate during the flight remain unclear.