Article 128 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 128 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب التاسع: البحث والإنقاذ
Search and rescue expenses and compensation referred to in Article 127 may not exceed the value of the aircraft immediately before the accident.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز أن تزيد النفقات والتعويضات المشار إليها في المادة (السابعة والعشرين بعد المائة) من هذا النظام على قيمة الطائرة قبل وقوع الحادث مباشرة.
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 128 explained in plain English
This article sets a ceiling on what can be claimed for search and rescue operations.
What does the ceiling cover? The expenses and compensation referred to in Article 127, which are:
- the expenses resulting from search and rescue assistance operations; and
- compensation for damage that occurred during those operations or was a direct result of them.
The maximum: the value of the aircraft immediately before the accident. The expenses and compensation may not exceed this value.
The rationale: The Law ties rescue obligations to the value of the aircraft that was assisted, so the person who must pay does not bear more than the value of what was rescued or searched for. What counts is the value of the aircraft immediately before the accident, not its value afterward, because after the accident the aircraft may be damaged or worth little.
The article does not specify how the aircraft's value is to be assessed, or how the amount is divided if several providers of assistance have claims that together exceed the ceiling.
It is followed by Article 129, which obliges the operator of the assisted aircraft to pay the assistance expenses, compensation and rewards due, even if the aircraft belongs to the person who provided the assistance. Anyone claiming rescue expenses who wants to assess the limits of their claim may consult a lawyer specializing in compensation and civil aviation cases.
Practical example
Several private parties took part in searching for a small aircraft whose value immediately before the accident was SAR 3,000,000. Their expenses and damage totaled SAR 3,500,000. The expenses and compensation due may not exceed SAR 3,000,000.
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 128 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Is there a limit on rescue compensation?
Yes. The expenses and compensation may not exceed the value of the aircraft immediately before the accident.
Is the aircraft's value calculated after the accident?
No. What counts is the value of the aircraft immediately before the accident.
Articles this article refers to
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.