Article 148 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 148 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: المسؤولية عن الأضرار التي تسببها الطائرة للغير على سطح الأرض
If several persons are liable for the damage, injured persons may not recover a total above the highest limit that could be awarded against one liable person; where several aircraft are involved, compensation does not exceed the sum of their limits, subject to unlimited liability.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- مع مراعاة أحكام المادة (السابعة والأربعين بعد المائة) من هذا النظام، إذا تعدد المسؤولون عن الضرر وفقا لأحكام هذا الفصل فليس للمتضررين الحق في الحصول على تعويض إجمالي يزيد على الحد الأعلى للتعويض الذي قد يحكم به على مسؤول واحد.
2- عند تطبيق أحكام المادة (الخامسة والأربعين بعد المائة) من هذا النظام يكون للمتضرر الحق في الحصول على تعويض لا يتجاوز مجموع الحدود القصوى للطائرات التي ساهمت في وقوع الضرر. ومع ذلك فإن أي مشغل لا يكون مسؤولا عن دفع تعويض يتجاوز الحد الأقصى المقرر لطائراته ما لم تكن مسؤوليته غير محدودة طبقا لأحكام المادة (السابعة والأربعين بعد المائة) من هذا النظام.
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 148 explained in plain English
This article answers the question: how are the maximum limits of compensation applied where there are several persons liable or several aircraft?
1- Several persons liable: Subject to Article 147, if several persons are liable for the damage under this chapter, the injured persons are not entitled to a total compensation exceeding the highest limit of compensation that could be awarded against one liable person. Having several liable persons does not multiply the limit.
2- Several aircraft (the case of Article 145): Article 145 makes each aircraft deemed a cause where there is a collision, obstruction, or damage arising from two or more aircraft, and each operator is liable in proportion to its fault. In this case:
- the injured person is entitled to compensation not exceeding the sum of the maximum limits of the aircraft that contributed to the damage; and
- however, no operator is liable to pay compensation exceeding the maximum limit prescribed for its aircraft, unless its liability is unlimited under Article 147.
Article 147: It makes the operator's liability unlimited if the injured person proves that the damage resulted from a deliberate act or omission with intent to cause it or from recklessness with knowledge that it would probably result, and it makes the liability of a person who unlawfully seizes the aircraft unlimited. This is why this article makes its provisions subject to it.
The difference between the two paragraphs: in the first, there are several persons liable for one damage, so a single limit remains; in the second, there are several aircraft, so their limits are added. It is followed by Article 149, which governs the distribution of compensation where it exceeds the maximum limit. To apply these rules in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in compensation and aviation cases.
Practical example
Two aircraft belonging to different operators collided and fell on an industrial facility. The facility owner is entitled to compensation not exceeding the sum of the two aircraft's maximum limits, but no operator pays more than the limit prescribed for its aircraft, unless deliberate intent or recklessness with knowledge is established against it.
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 148 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Is the maximum compensation limit multiplied if there are several liable persons?
No. Injured persons are not entitled to a total compensation above the highest limit that could be awarded against one liable person, subject to Article 147.
What is the compensation limit when two aircraft collide?
It does not exceed the sum of the maximum limits of the contributing aircraft, and no operator pays more than the limit prescribed for its aircraft unless its liability is unlimited.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 147
Liability of the operator for surface damage is unlimited if the injured person proves deliberate intent to cause damage or recklessness with knowledge that damage would probably result, and the liability of a person who unlawfully seizes and uses an aircraft is unlimited.
مع مراعاة المعاهدات الدولية المنضمة إليها المملكة: 1 - تكون مسؤولية المشغل وفقا لأحكام هذا الفصل غير محدودة إذا أثبت المتضرر أن الضرر قد نجم عن فعل أو امتناع مت
- 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
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 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
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.

