If you’re stuck on a plane and it feels like the flight will never take off, don’t just sit there wondering. There’s a federal rule that kicks in at three hours—and it’s designed to protect you, not the airline. The trick? You need to know it and invoke it. Here’s what the airlines hope you’ll forget while you’re sweating on the runway.

You don’t have to just sit there

In the U.S., the tarmac delay rule is simple: three hours on a domestic flight and you’re legally entitled to get off. The airline must let you deplane unless there’s a security or safety reason. In Europe, Canada, and elsewhere, similar rules kick in—sometimes even sooner.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “DOT rules prohibit most U.S. airlines from allowing a domestic flight to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours unless the pilot determines that there is a safety or security reason.”

And that’s not all. “U.S. airlines must provide passengers with food and water no later than two hours after the tarmac delay begins.” Airplane lavatories must stay operable. Medical help must be available if needed. And if you’re on an international flight? That airline still has to follow its own stated time limit—usually also around three to four hours.

As Brian Rourke, a United Airlines pilot, bluntly puts it: “Nobody wants to sit on the tarmac for an extended period of time.” But too often, that’s what happens—unless someone speaks up.

When things go sideways

You’re not just imagining it: tarmac delays are more common than ever. Airlines try to squeeze every drop of efficiency from the schedule, but one hiccup—weather, VIP movement, even an ATC staff shortage—can jam up the whole system.

That’s how you get stories like the one I previously wrote, where a TUI flight in Manchester ended with the captain calling the police to help passengers off the plane. The ground crew had literally abandoned them.

Internationally, rules vary, but many include clear mandates for ventilation, communication, and compensation. Canada requires airlines to maintain “operable lavatories, proper ventilation, food and drink, and communication.” Europe makes airlines offer free Wi-Fi or other means of staying informed.

So next time you’re stuck on the tarmac, don’t assume you’re powerless. The three-hour rule (and its global cousins) are there for a reason. Know them, use them, and ask questions—because the longer you stay quiet, the longer you’re likely to stay stuck.