Article 126 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 126 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب التاسع: البحث والإنقاذ
The article prohibits removing any part of the accident aircraft or distorting its traces except for rescue necessity or with the Authority's approval, and has the search, rescue and guard units monitor this.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز لأي شخص إزالة أي جزء أو أي قطعة من أجزاء الطائرة محل الحادث أو تشويه أي أثر من آثار الحادث إلا إذا كان ذلك ضروريا لأعمال الإنقاذ أو بموافقة من الهيئة، وعلى وحدات البحث والإنقاذ والحراسة مراقبة تطبيق ذلك حتى يتم استكمال المعلومات الضرورية للتحقيق في الحادث.
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 126 explained in plain English
This article protects the evidence at an aviation accident site, because any piece of the aircraft may be the key to learning the cause of the accident.
The prohibition: No person may:
- remove any part or piece of the accident aircraft;
- distort any trace of the accident.
The two exceptions:
- if that is necessary for rescue work;
- or it is done with the Authority's approval.
Oversight: The search, rescue and guard units must monitor application of this prohibition.
Duration: until the information necessary to investigate the accident has been completed.
The prohibition is general and covers "any person", whether a resident of the area, a passer-by or even someone working at the site, so picking up a piece of wreckage as a souvenir, for example, falls within it. The article does not state the penalty for violation.
This article follows Article 125 on arrangements for cooperation with other States on search and rescue, and precedes Article 127, which gives anyone who provided search and rescue assistance the right to recover expenses and compensation for damage. Anyone facing liability for violating this prohibition is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal matters and civil aviation law.
Practical example
A small aircraft crashes near a village, and some residents go to the site, and one of them wants to take a piece of metal from the wreckage. He may not, and the guard units must stop him, because removal is permitted only for rescue necessity or with the Authority's approval until the investigation information is completed.
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 126 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
May a piece of aircraft wreckage be taken?
No person may remove any part or piece of the accident aircraft unless it is necessary for rescue work or with the Authority's approval.
Until when does the ban on touching the accident site last?
Until the information necessary to investigate the accident has been completed.
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.