Article 124 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 124 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب التاسع: البحث والإنقاذ
The article requires the competent authorities to allow, immediately and temporarily, the entry into the Kingdom's territory of the persons, equipment and aircraft the Authority considers necessary for search and rescue operations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على السلطات المختصة أن تسمح للأشخاص والمعدات والطائرات التي تراها الهيئة لازمة لعمليات البحث والإنقاذ بالدخول فورًا وبصفة مؤقتة إلى إقليم المملكة للمشاركة في هذه العمليات.
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 124 explained in plain English
Search and rescue operations may need expertise, equipment or aircraft from outside the Kingdom. This article ensures the usual entry procedures do not delay this help.
The obligation: The competent authorities must allow entry into the Kingdom's territory by:
- persons;
- equipment;
- aircraft;
that the Authority considers necessary for search and rescue operations.
Nature of the entry:
- immediately, without delay;
- temporarily, that is, to take part in the operations, not for permanent stay;
- to take part in these operations specifically.
The Authority's role: Assessing what is necessary for the operations is for the Authority, and the competent authorities allow entry of what the Authority considers necessary.
The rationale: In aviation accidents the first hours are decisive for saving lives, and circumstances may require specialized teams or equipment from other countries. The Law therefore makes allowing their entry immediate. The article does not set the procedures or documents required for this entry.
This article follows Article 123, which requires the authorities to allow rescue teams to enter prohibited areas under the Authority's supervision, and precedes Article 125, which allows the Authority to propose arrangements for coordination and cooperation with other States, particularly neighboring ones, on search and rescue, to be submitted to the board of directors for approval. Anyone with a question about its application may consult a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law.
Practical example
An aircraft goes missing over rugged mountainous terrain in the south of the Kingdom, and the Authority considers that a specialized foreign team and its equipment are needed for the search. The competent authorities must allow them to enter immediately and temporarily to take part in the operations.
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 124 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can foreign rescue teams enter the Kingdom immediately?
Yes. The competent authorities must allow, immediately and temporarily, the entry of the persons, equipment and aircraft the Authority considers necessary for search and rescue operations.
Who decides what must be allowed in for rescue operations?
The Authority is the one that considers what is necessary for search and rescue operations.
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.