Article 114 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 114 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب الثامن: حوادث الطيران
The investigation committee submits preliminary and final reports on the accident, its causes and circumstances to the Center, and the Regulations set the bodies notified of them after the board of directors approves them and their publication is permitted.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
ترفع لجنة التحقيق تقارير مبدئية ونهائية عن الحادث والأسباب والظروف التي أحاطت به إلى المركز، وتحدد اللائحة الدول والجهات المعنية التي تبلغ بالتقارير بعد اعتمادها من مجلس الإدارة والسماح بنشرها، وذلك وفقا لأحكام المعاهدات الدولية.
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 114 explained in plain English
This article deals with the output of an aviation accident investigation: the reports.
What does the investigation committee submit?
- preliminary reports;
- final reports;
on the accident and the causes and circumstances surrounding it.
To whom? To the Center. The word "Center" replaced "Bureau" in this article under Council of Ministers Decision No. (158) dated 20/2/1445 AH.
Notifying the reports: The Regulations specify the States and bodies concerned that are notified of the reports, and this happens:
- after the board of directors approves them;
- and after their publication is permitted;
- and in accordance with the provisions of international treaties.
So the report is not distributed to the bodies concerned as soon as it is prepared, but after it has gone through approval and permission to publish. The article does not set deadlines for issuing the reports or their detailed content.
Importance of the reports: These reports are the official result of the investigation, and many bodies rely on them to identify causes and recommendations. This article follows Article 113, which requires the security authorities and administrative bodies to facilitate the investigation committees' work and give them the official papers, and precedes Article 115, which regulates sending the draft report to the bodies the Bureau specifies to obtain their comments in accidents of foreign aircraft. Those with an interest in a particular accident may consult a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law about making use of these reports.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCommercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributorDr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 114 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Are preliminary reports issued on aviation accidents?
Yes. The investigation committee submits preliminary and final reports on the accident, its causes and the circumstances surrounding it to the Center.
When are the bodies concerned notified of the accident report?
After the board of directors approves the reports and their publication is permitted; the Regulations specify these bodies, in line with international treaties.
Amendment history
Amendment — 20/2/1445 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- إحلال كلمة "المركز" محل كلمة "المكتب" الواردة في هذه المادة وذلك بموجب قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم (158) وتاريخ 1445/2/20هـ
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
ترفع لجنة التحقيق تقارير مبدئية ونهائية عن الحادث والأسباب والظروف التي أحاطت به إلى المكتب، وتحدد اللائحة الدول والجهات المعنية التي تبلغ بالتقارير بعد اعتمادها من مجلس الإدارة والسماح بنشرها، وذلك وفقا لأحكام المعاهدات الدولية.
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 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
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.

