Article 141 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 141 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: المسؤولية عن الأضرار التي تسببها الطائرة للغير على سطح الأرض
Anyone harmed on the surface in the Kingdom is entitled to compensation from the aircraft operator once it is shown that the damage arose directly from the aircraft in flight or from a person or thing that fell from it, subject to specified exceptions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1 - لكل من أصيب بضرر على سطح الأرض في إقليم المملكة الحق في الحصول على تعويض من مشغل الطائرة بمجرد ثبوت أن الضرر قد نشأ مباشرة من الطائرة وهي في حالة طيران أو من شخص أو شيء سقط منها، ويعد الضرر الواقع على السفينة أو الطائرة المسجلة في المملكة وهي في أعالي البحار كأنه وقع في إقليم المملكة.
2 - يستثنى من أحكام الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة حالات الضرر الآتية التي تخضع لأحكام الأنظمة والقواعد الأخرى المطبقة:
أ - الضرر الذي يصيب الغير على سطح الأرض في المملكة إذا كان غير مباشر لحادث الطائرة الذي وقع أو الذي ينشأ من مجرد مرور الطائرة في الفضاء الجوي وفقا لقواعد الحركة الجوية المعمول بها.
ب - الضرر الذي يصيب طائرة في حالة طيران أو يصيب الأشخاص أو الأموال الموجودة على متن الطائرة .
ج - الضرر الذي يحدث على سطح الأرض إذا كانت المسؤولية عن هذا الضرر ينظمها عقد بين المتضرر والمشغل أو الشخص الذي له حق استعمال الطائرة عند وقوع الضرر، أو تنظمه تشريعات العمل السارية على عقود العمل المبرمة بين هؤلاء الأشخاص.
د - الأضرار الناجمة من الطائرات المستخدمة في الخدمات الحربية والجمارك والشرطة.
هـ - الأضرار النووية.
3 - يتم دفع التعويض المشار إليه في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة بالعملة الوطنية للمملكة.
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 141 explained in plain English
This article is the basis of the right of a person harmed on the ground to compensation for damage caused by aircraft.
1- The rule: Anyone harmed on the surface in the territory of the Kingdom is entitled to compensation from the aircraft operator, once it is shown that the damage arose directly from:
- the aircraft in flight; or
- a person or thing that fell from it.
Fault on the operator's part need not be proved; it is enough to show that the damage arose directly from the aircraft or from something that fell from it. Damage to a ship or aircraft registered in the Kingdom on the high seas is treated as if it occurred in the Kingdom's territory.
2- The exceptions (governed by other laws and rules):
- damage that is indirect to the aircraft accident, or arises merely from the aircraft passing through the airspace in accordance with the applicable air traffic rules;
- damage to an aircraft in flight, or to persons or property on board it;
- damage whose liability is regulated by a contract between the injured person and the operator or the person entitled to use the aircraft, or by labor legislation applicable to employment contracts between them;
- damage caused by aircraft used in military, customs and police services; and
- nuclear damage.
3- Currency: Compensation is paid in the national currency of the Kingdom.
The meaning of "in flight" is set by Article 140: from when motive power is first used for actual takeoff until landing. It is followed by Article 142, which determines who is liable for compensation. Anyone harmed by an aircraft may consult a lawyer specializing in compensation cases.
Practical example
A part fell from an aircraft while flying over a neighborhood in Jeddah and damaged the roof of Ahmed's house. Ahmed may claim compensation from the aircraft operator once he shows that the damage arose directly from something that fell from the aircraft, and compensation is paid in Saudi riyals.
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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Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Abdullah Al-Saleh Law Office for Law and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 141 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Must I prove the airline's fault to get compensation for damage on the ground?
The article grants the right to compensation once it is shown that the damage arose directly from the aircraft in flight or from a person or thing that fell from it.
Am I entitled to compensation for the noise of passing aircraft?
Damage arising merely from the aircraft passing through the airspace in accordance with air traffic rules is excepted from this article and is governed by other laws.
In what currency is compensation paid?
In the national currency of the Kingdom.
More articles on Compensation for Damage Caused by Aircraft on the Ground
- Article 66
The article protects anyone who suffers surface damage from an aircraft when it is seized and sold by forced sale: security rights can be asserted against them only up to 80% of the price, unless the damage was insured.
1- إذا تم إجراء البيع الجبري في المملكة ووقع في إقليمها ضرر على السطح من طائرة تم ترتيب أحد الحقوق الواردة في المادة (السادسة والخمسين) من هذا النظام عليها ضمان
- Article 140
For the purposes of the chapter on damage on the surface, an aircraft is in flight from when motive power is first used for actual takeoff until landing; a lighter-than-air aircraft, from when it leaves the ground until it is secured again.
عند تطبيق أحكام هذا الفصل تعد الطائرة في حالة طيران منذ اللحظة التي يبدأ فيها استخدام القوة المحركة لغرض الإقلاع الفعلي حتى اللحظة التي يتم فيها الهبوط، وتبدأ ه
- Article 142
The aircraft operator is liable for compensation for surface damage whether it uses the aircraft itself or through its employees and agents, and the owner or lessee in whose name the aircraft is registered is deemed the operator unless it proves someone else is.
1 - يكون مشغل الطائرة مسؤولا عن التعويض المشار إليه في المادة (الحادية والأربعين بعد المائة) من هذا النظام سواء أكان يستعمل الطائرة بنفسه أو بواسطة تابعيه ووكلا
- Article 143
A person entitled to use the aircraft for less than 14 days is jointly liable with the person who authorized the use, and the operator is jointly liable with anyone who used its aircraft without its consent unless it proves it took the necessary care.
1- يكون الشخص الذي له حق استعمال الطائرة لمدة تقل عن أربعة عشر يوما مسؤولا بالتضامن مع الشخص الذي خوله هذا الحق في دفع التعويض عن الأضرار الموجبة للتعويض المشار
- Article 144
The liable person is exempt from compensating surface damage caused by armed conflict or civil disturbance, by being barred from using the aircraft by order of public authorities, or by the injured person's fault; compensation is reduced in proportion to the injured person's contribution.
1- لا يلتزم الشخص المسؤول وفقا لأحكام هذا الفصل بتعويض الضرر الذي يقع في الأحوال الآتية: أ - إذا كان الضرر قد نتج مباشرة عن نزاع مسلح أو لاضطرابات مدنية. ب - إ
- Article 145
Where damage on the surface arises from a collision of two or more aircraft in flight, or one obstructing another, or from two or more aircraft, each aircraft is deemed to have caused the damage and each operator is liable in proportion to its fault or that of its employees.
إذا نشأ ضرر للغير على سطح الأرض يستحق عنه تعويض نتيجة تصادم طائرتين أو أكثر في حالة طيران ، أو بسبب إعاقة إحداهما سير الأخرى، أو إذا نشأ مثل هذا الضرر من طائرتي
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.