Article 111 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 111 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب الثامن: حوادث الطيران
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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؛ إجراء تحقيق في ظروفه وأسبابه على ضوء المعلومات المبدئية المتوافرة عن الحادث، كما له أن يقرر عدم السير قدما في التحقيق اكتفاء بما تجمع من معلومات، وتحدد اللائحة صلاحيات لجان التحقيق.
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 111 explained in plain English
This article identifies who decides whether to open an investigation into an aviation accident or to rely on the information available.
Decision-maker: the board of directors.
Accidents covered:
- an accident that happens in the Kingdom's territory;
- or over the high seas;
- or over land not owned by any State;
if it involves a Saudi aircraft or a foreign aircraft operated by a Saudi, according to the text's wording.
Content of the decision:
- to conduct an investigation into the circumstances and causes of the accident, in light of the preliminary information available about it;
- or not to proceed with the investigation, relying on the information gathered.
Not every accident requires a full investigation, and the board may decide this based on the preliminary information available. The article sets no criteria for this assessment.
Powers of the committees: The Regulations set the powers of the investigation committees, and the text does not give their details.
This article follows Article 110, which requires the local authorities to preserve the aircraft and its wreckage until the investigation committee arrives and issues its instructions, and precedes Article 112, which regulates the participation of States' representatives in the investigation. Anyone with an interest in a particular accident, such as victims' families or operators, may consult a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law.
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 111 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Who decides to conduct an investigation into an aviation accident?
The board of directors decides, in light of the preliminary information available about the accident.
Can a full investigation of an accident be skipped?
Yes. The board of directors may decide not to proceed with the investigation, relying on the information gathered.
Who sets the powers of investigation committees?
The Regulations set the powers of the investigation committees.
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 110
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.
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 موض
- 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.