Article 142 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 142 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: المسؤولية عن الأضرار التي تسببها الطائرة للغير على سطح الأرض
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 ووكلائه أثناء ممارستهم لوظائفهم، حتى ولو كان ذلك غير داخل في نطاق اختصاصاتهم.
فإذا توفي المستثمر تسري هذه المسؤولية في مواجهة من يخلفه في التزاماته.
2 - يعد المالك أو المستأجر المسجلة باسمه الطائرة مشغلا لها ويكون مسؤولا بصفته هذه، إلا إذا أثبت خلال إجراءات تحديد مسؤوليته أن شخصا آخر غيره هو المشغل ، وعليه في هذه الحالة أن يبادر بقدر ما تسمح به إجراءات التقاضي باتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة لإدخال هذا الأخير طرفا في الدعوى.
3 - لا تؤثر أحكام هذا الفصل على حق الشخص المسؤول في الرجوع على الغير.
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 142 explained in plain English
This article determines who pays the compensation set by Article 141 to a person harmed on the surface by an aircraft in flight or by something that fell from it.
1- The operator is liable:
- whether it uses the aircraft itself, or through its employees and agents while performing their functions;
- even if that falls outside the scope of their duties; and
- if the operator dies, this liability applies against whoever succeeds to its obligations.
2- Presumption from registration: The owner or lessee in whose name the aircraft is registered is deemed its operator and liable in that capacity, unless it proves, during the proceedings to determine its liability, that another person is the operator. In that case it must act promptly, as far as the court procedures allow, to join that person as a party to the case.
This makes it easier for the injured person to know whom to sue: it is enough to consult the aircraft register.
3- Right of recourse: The provisions of this chapter do not affect the right of the liable person to claim against third parties. An operator who paid compensation may claim against whoever actually caused the damage, such as a maintenance organization, under the applicable laws.
It is followed by Article 143, which establishes joint liability of a person entitled to use the aircraft for less than 14 days together with the person who authorized it, and of the operator together with someone who used the aircraft without its consent. Anyone harmed by an aircraft or facing a claim for its damage may consult a lawyer specializing in compensation and aviation cases.
Practical example
A farm in Qassim was damaged when parts fell from an agricultural aircraft. The farm owner sued the company in whose name the aircraft is registered, and it argued that its actual operator was another company. It must prove this during the proceedings to determine liability and act promptly to join that company as a party to the case, otherwise it remains liable.
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 142 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Who is liable for compensating damage an aircraft causes on the ground?
The aircraft operator, whether it used the aircraft itself or through its employees and agents while performing their functions.
Is the owner of the aircraft liable?
The owner or lessee in whose name the aircraft is registered is deemed the operator and is liable, unless it proves that another person is the operator and acts promptly to join that person to the case.
Can the operator claim against whoever caused the damage?
Yes. The provisions of this chapter do not affect the right of the liable person to claim against third parties.
Articles this article refers to
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 141
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.
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 م
- 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.