Article 117 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 117 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب الثامن: حوادث الطيران
The facts covered by the investigation committee's final report on an aircraft accident are considered correct until the contrary is proved.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تعد الوقائع التي شملها التقرير النهائي الذي تضعه لجنة التحقيق في حادث الطائرة صحيحة حتى يتم إثبات عكسها.
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 117 explained in plain English
This article sets the legal value of the final report that the investigation committee prepares on an aircraft accident.
The rule: The facts covered by the final report are considered correct until the contrary is proved.
What does this mean?
- The final report is treated as a presumption that the facts stated in it are correct;
- whoever claims otherwise than what it states must prove it;
- but this weight is not absolute, since proof to the contrary is allowed.
Limits of the rule: The weight attaches to the "facts" covered by the report, that is, what actually happened in terms of circumstances and course of events. The text does not speak of conclusions or determining legal liability, and it does not state the means of proving the contrary or the body to which it is submitted.
Practical effect: In any dispute relating to an aviation accident, such as compensation claims, the interested party may rely on the facts in the final report, and the other party bears the burden of proving otherwise. This gives official reports considerable weight and shortens much of the argument over facts.
This article follows Article 116, which allows the Bureau to reopen the investigation by a reasoned decision if material data or new evidence appears that was not available to the committee and affects the result, and precedes Article 118 on participation in investigations conducted abroad. Anyone who wishes to rely on a final report or challenge its facts may consult a lawyer specializing in aviation and compensation matters.
Practical example
The family of someone injured in an aircraft accident files a compensation claim, relying on the investigation committee's final report, which found that the aircraft landed in certain weather conditions. These facts are considered correct, and if the other party wants to deny them it must prove the contrary.
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 117 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Is the final aircraft accident report accepted as evidence?
The facts covered by the final report prepared by the investigation committee are considered correct until the contrary is proved.
Can the facts of an investigation report be challenged?
Yes. The weight of the report applies until the contrary is proved, but the article does not set the means of proof or its procedures.
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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.