Article 110 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 110 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب الثامن: حوادث الطيران
On an aviation accident, local authorities must keep the aircraft from flying, preserve it and its wreckage, and not move it except for specified reasons until the investigation committee arrives.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على السلطات المحلية عند وقوع حادث طيران في منطقة اختصاصها أن تمنع الطائرة عن الطيران وأن تحافظ عليها وعلى أجزائها وجميع موجوداتها أو حطامها، وعدم تحريكها من موضعها إلا بقصد إنقاذ الأرواح، أو المحافظة على الأشياء الثمينة، أو البريد، أو مقاومة الحرائق، أو إذا شكلت الطائرة أو حطامها خطرا على الملاحة الجوية أو على وسائل النقل الأخرى، وذلك لحين وصول لجنة التحقيق وصدور تعليماتها في هذا الشأن، وفي جميع الأحوال يفضل - كلما أمكن ذلك - تصوير الطائرة أو الحطام قبل نقله كليًّا أو جزئيًّا أو تعديل وضعه.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 110 explained in plain English
The success of an aviation accident investigation depends on the evidence staying as it is. For this reason this article places duties on the local authorities in whose area of jurisdiction the accident happens.
Duties of the local authorities:
- keep the aircraft from flying;
- preserve it and its parts and all its contents or wreckage;
- not move it from its position.
Cases in which it may be moved:
- saving lives;
- preserving valuables or mail;
- fighting fires;
- where the aircraft or its wreckage poses a danger to air navigation or other means of transport.
Duration of the duty: until the investigation committee arrives and issues its instructions on the matter.
Documentation: In all cases, whenever possible, it is preferable to photograph the aircraft or wreckage before it is moved in whole or in part or its position altered. The text says "preferable", so this is a strong recommendation, not a condition.
In practice, priority goes to saving lives, then to preserving the accident site for the benefit of the investigation. This article follows Article 109 on notifying the States and bodies concerned of accidents to foreign aircraft, and precedes Article 111, under which the board of directors decides whether to conduct an investigation. Anyone affected by an accident who wants to know their rights may consult a lawyer specializing in aviation and compensation matters.
Practical example
A small aircraft makes an emergency landing in a desert area near Qassim. The local authorities must keep it from flying and preserve it and its parts, and not move it except to rescue the passengers, put out a fire, or for another reason the text allows, photographing it before any move whenever possible, until the investigation committee arrives and issues its instructions.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 110 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
May aircraft wreckage be moved after an accident?
Only to save lives, preserve valuables or mail, fight fires, or if the wreckage endangers navigation or other means of transport.
Until when do the authorities preserve the accident site?
Until the investigation committee arrives and issues its instructions on the matter.
Must the wreckage be photographed before it is moved?
The article provides that it is preferable, whenever possible, to photograph the aircraft or wreckage before it is moved or its position altered.
More articles on Aviation Accidents and Search and Rescue
- Article 107
The National Transport Safety Center investigates accidents and incidents of civil aircraft in the Kingdom and of Saudi aircraft, and sets the investigation regulations, forms its committees, prepares reports and publishes the results.
1- يتولى المركز التحقيق في الحوادث والوقائع التي تقع للطائرات المدنية في إقليم المملكة وللطائرات السعودية وللطائرات التي يشغلها أشخاص يحملون الجنسية السعودية فو
- Article 108
Local authorities, crew members and pilots who see an accident must report aviation accidents in the Kingdom to the Authority, and the owner or operator must notify of accidents to Saudi aircraft abroad.
1- عند وقوع حادث طيران في إقليم المملكة فإن على السلطات المحلية عند علمها بوقوع الحادث في منطقة اختصاصها وعلى عضو طاقم الطائرة التي وقع لها الحادث إذا سمحت حالت
- Article 109
On learning of an accident to a foreign aircraft in the Kingdom's territory, the Center must notify the State of registry, the State of the operator, the State of design and of manufacture, any State affected, and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
مع مراعاة أحكام الملحق (13) لمعاهدة شيكاغو بشأن التحقيق في حوادث الطائرات ؛ يقوم المركز بعد علمه بوقوع حادث لطائرة أجنبية في إقليم المملكة بالإبلاغ عنه في أقرب
- Article 111
The board of directors decides whether to conduct an investigation into aviation accidents in the Kingdom or over the high seas involving a Saudi aircraft, or a foreign one operated by a Saudi, or not to proceed with it; the Regulations set the committees' powers.
يقرر مجلس الإدارة عند وقوع حادث طيران في إقليم المملكة أو فوق أعالي البحار أو فوق الأراضي غير المملوكة لإحدى الدول لطائرة سعودية أو لطائرة أجنبية يشغلها سعودي؛
- Article 112
The article allows the Center to ask States and bodies set by the Regulations for representatives to take part as observers in investigating accidents of Saudi aircraft, and gives the States concerned a right of representation for foreign aircraft accidents.
1- عند وقوع حادث لطائرة سعودية أو لطائرة أجنبية يشغلها سعودي في إقليم المملكة أو فوق أعالي البحار أو فوق أراض غير مملوكة لدولة ما؛ يجوز للمركز أن يطلب من الدول
- Article 113
The article requires security authorities and administrative bodies to facilitate the investigation committees' work and give them the official papers, carry out rescue and first aid while preserving the accident traces, and implement the committees' instructions.
على سلطات الأمن والجهات الإدارية كل فيما يخصه اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة لتسهيل أعمال لجان التحقيق وخاصة تزويدها بجميع الأوراق الرسمية التي تعدها عن الحادث، وعليها
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.