Article 118 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 118 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب الثامن: حوادث الطيران
The article requires the Center to send an accredited representative of the Kingdom and advisers to take part in a foreign investigation of accidents to Saudi aircraft, aircraft operated by a Saudi, or in which Saudis are injured.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
في حالة وقوع حادث لطائرة مدنية سعودية أو لطائرة أجنبية يشغلها شخص يحمل الجنسية السعودية أو أصيب أشخاص يحملون الجنسية السعودية نتيجة حادث لطائرة أجنبية في إقليم دولة أجنبية، يجب على المركز إيفاد ممثل معتمد للمملكة والمستشارين اللازمين للاشتراك في التحقيق الذي تجريه السلطات المختصة في هذه الدولة وعليه تقديم تقرير عن اشتراكه في هذا 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 118 explained in plain English
This article deals with aviation accidents that happen in the territory of a foreign State and have a connection with the Kingdom, and makes the Kingdom's participation in investigating them a duty of the Center.
Cases covered: an accident in the territory of a foreign State:
- to a Saudi civil aircraft; or
- to a foreign aircraft operated by a person holding Saudi nationality; or
- to a foreign aircraft in which persons holding Saudi nationality were injured.
Duties of the Center:
- send an accredited representative of the Kingdom and the necessary advisers;
- to take part in the investigation conducted by the competent authorities in that State;
- submit a report on its participation in this investigation.
The third case is important: even if the Kingdom has no connection with the aircraft itself, the injury of Saudi nationals in the accident is enough to make participation obligatory.
The word "Center" replaced "Bureau" in this article under Council of Ministers Decision No. (158) dated 20/2/1445 AH. The article does not state the body to which the participation report is submitted or the limits of the representative's role in the foreign investigation.
This article follows Article 117, under which the facts of the investigation committee's final report are considered correct until the contrary is proved, and precedes Article 119 on joint investigation of accidents between a military aircraft and a civil one. Families of Saudis harmed in accidents abroad may consult a lawyer specializing in international matters and aviation cases.
Practical example
An aircraft of a foreign company has an accident in an Asian country, and several Saudi nationals are among the injured. The Center must send an accredited representative of the Kingdom and advisers to take part in the investigation conducted by that country's authorities, and must submit a report on its participation.
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 118 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Does Saudi Arabia take part in the investigation if Saudis are injured in a foreign aircraft accident abroad?
Yes. The Center must send an accredited representative of the Kingdom and the necessary advisers to take part in the investigation conducted by that State's authorities.
Does the Kingdom's representative submit a report on their participation?
Yes. The Center must submit a report on its participation in this investigation.
Amendment history
Amendment — 20/2/1445 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- إحلال كلمة "المركز" محل كلمة "المكتب" وذلك بموجب قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم (158) وتاريخ 1445/2/20هـ
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
في حالة وقوع حادث لطائرة مدنية سعودية أو لطائرة أجنبية يشغلها شخص يحمل الجنسية السعودية أو أصيب أشخاص يحملون الجنسية السعودية نتيجة حادث لطائرة أجنبية في إقليم دولة أجنبية، يجب على المكتب إيفاد ممثل معتمد للمملكة والمستشارين اللازمين للاشتراك في التحقيق الذي تجريه السلطات المختصة في هذه الدولة وعليه تقديم تقرير عن اشتراكه في هذا التحقيق.
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.