Article 136 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 136 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الأول: مسؤولية الناقل الجوي
The air carrier is liable to passengers, shippers and consignees for jettisoning baggage and goods during flight, even if it was necessary to save the aircraft or passengers.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكون الناقل الجوي مسؤولا تجاه الركاب والشاحنين والمرسل إليهم عن إلقاء الأمتعة والبضائع المشحونة أثناء الطيران حتى ولو كان لا بد من إلقائها لنجاة الطائرة أو الركاب.
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 136 explained in plain English
This article deals with a rare but possible situation: baggage or goods being thrown out of the aircraft during flight.
The rule: The air carrier is liable for jettisoning the baggage and goods it carries during flight.
Toward whom?
- passengers (for their baggage);
- shippers; and
- consignees.
Even in a case of necessity: The liability remains even if the jettison was necessary to save the aircraft or passengers. Necessity may justify the jettison itself, but it does not remove the rights of the owners of the baggage and goods.
The rationale: The owner of the baggage or goods played no part in the circumstances that required the jettison, and their property was sacrificed for the safety of the flight. It is fair that they should not bear this loss alone, and that the carrier bears it.
What the article does not specify: The article does not state the amount or limits of compensation; these are found in the international treaties the Kingdom has joined, which Article 135 applies to international and domestic carriage.
It is followed by Article 137, which relieves the carrier of liability if the aircraft commander is compelled to disembark or hand over a passenger who disturbs order or endangers safety, or the passenger is disembarked on the instructions of the authorities. Anyone who lost goods in this way may consult a lawyer specializing in compensation and aviation cases.
Practical example
The commander of a cargo aircraft had to jettison part of the load during flight to reduce weight in an emergency, including a consignment belonging to a merchant in Jeddah. The carrier remains liable to the merchant and the consignee for this consignment, even though the jettison was necessary to save the aircraft.
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 136 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Does an airline compensate for goods jettisoned in an emergency?
Yes. The carrier is liable for jettisoning baggage and goods during flight even if it was necessary to save the aircraft or passengers.
Who is entitled to claim compensation?
Passengers, shippers and consignees.
More articles on Liability of the Air Carrier
- Article 117
The facts covered by the investigation committee's final report on an aircraft accident are considered correct until the contrary is proved.
تعد الوقائع التي شملها التقرير النهائي الذي تضعه لجنة التحقيق في حادث الطائرة صحيحة حتى يتم إثبات عكسها.
- Article 133
For the purposes of the chapter on air carrier liability, "air carrier" means the contracting or actual carrier, and "Montreal Convention" means the 1999 convention unifying certain rules for international air carriage.
يُقصد بالعبارات والمصطلحات الآتية أينما وردت في هذا الفصل المعاني المبينة أمامها ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك : الناقل الجوي : الناقل المتعاقد أو الناقل الفعلي حس
- Article 134
The air carrier's liability toward the passenger, shipper and consignee is contractual liability under the contract of carriage, governed by the international treaties the Kingdom has joined, the Law, other laws and applicable instructions.
تكون مسؤولية الناقل الجوي في علاقته مع الراكب أو شاحن البضائع والمرسل إليه مسؤولية تعاقدية وفقا لعقد النقل الجوي المبرم مع كل منهما، وتخضع لأحكام المعاهدات الدو
- Article 135
International treaties the Kingdom has joined apply to international and domestic air carriage of persons, baggage and goods.
تطبق المعاهدات الدولية المنضمة إليها المملكة على النقل الجوي الدولي والداخلي للأشخاص والأمتعة والبضائع.
- Article 137
The carrier is not liable if the aircraft commander is compelled to disembark or hand over a passenger who disturbs order or endangers safety, or if the passenger is disembarked on the instructions of the competent authorities.
لا يكون الناقل مسؤولا إذا اضطر قائد الطائرة إلى إنزال أو تسليم أي راكب يخل بالنظام على متن الطائرة أو يشكل خطرا على سلامة الطائرة أو الركاب أو تم إنزاله تنفيذا
- Article 138
Every air carrier in the Kingdom's territory must verify that passengers and goods hold the entry or exit documents required, including on domestic carriage where appropriate, and bears liability for any failure.
1- يجب على كل ناقل جوي في إقليم المملكة التحقق من استيفاء الركاب والبضائع للمستندات والوثائق اللازمة للدخول إلى المملكة أو الخروج منها إلى المطار المقصود. 2 - ت
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.