Article 149 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 149 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: صلاحيات وواجبات السلطات
Where total compensation exceeds the maximum liability limit, the article governs distribution: a per-person limit for death or bodily injury, proportional reduction, and priority for death and injury over property damage.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا تجاوز مجموع مبالغ التعويضات المقررة الحد الأقصى للمسؤولية المقررة وفقا لأحكام المادة (السادسة والأربعين بعد المائة) من هذا النظام، تطبق القواعد الآتية:
1- إذا كانت المسؤولية المعينة عن الوفاة أو الإصابات البدنية؛ فلا يجوز أن تتجاوز مبالغ التعويض الحدود المعينة لها عن كل شخص توفي أو أصيب.
2 - إذا كانت التعويضات مخصصة لحالات الوفاة أو الإصابات البدنية فقط أو لحالات الإضرار بالأموال وحدها؛ فتخفض مبالغ التعويضات بنسبة المبالغ المخصصة لكل منها.
3- إذا كانت التعويضات مخصصة معا لحالات الوفاة أو الإصابات البدنية وكذلك لحالات الأضرار بالأموال؛ فتخصص مبالغ التعويضات الإجمالية المعدة للتوزيع لتغطية نسب تعويضات حالات الوفاة أو الإصابات البدنية، وإذا تبقى شيء من مبالغ التعويضات الإجمالية المعدة للتوزيع يتم توزيعها بنسبة التعويضات عن الأضرار بالأموال.
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 149 explained in plain English
An aircraft accident may cause many damages whose total exceeds the maximum limit of liability set under Article 146, which refers the maximum limits to the international treaties, as amended, that the Kingdom has joined. How, then, is the available sum distributed? This article sets three rules:
- A limit per person: If the liability is for death or bodily injury, the compensation amounts may not exceed the limits set for it for each person who died or was injured.
- One type of damage: If the compensation is assigned only to cases of death or bodily injury, or only to property damage, the compensation amounts are reduced in proportion to the amounts assigned to each. That is, everyone bears the reduction in equal proportion.
- Both types together: If the compensation is assigned both to death or bodily injury and to property damage, the total amounts available for distribution are first assigned to cover the shares of compensation for death or bodily injury, and whatever remains of the total amounts available for distribution is distributed in proportion to the compensation for property damage.
The rationale: To put protection of persons ahead of protection of property: lives and bodies come before property in compensation when the sum is not enough for everyone.
This article follows Article 148, which governs the limits of liability where there are several persons liable, and precedes Article 150, which sets time limits for bringing compensation claims. Someone harmed by a major accident with many claims may consult a lawyer specializing in compensation cases.
Practical example
An aircraft fell on a residential neighborhood, killing some people, injuring others and damaging houses, and the total claims exceeded the maximum limit of liability. Compensation for death and bodily injury is covered first, within the limit set for each person, and whatever remains of the sum is distributed among the house owners in proportion to their compensation.
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 149 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
How is compensation distributed if claims exceed the maximum limit?
According to the type of damage: if of one type, amounts are reduced proportionally; if death and injury are combined with property damage, death and injury are covered first and the remainder is distributed to property damage.
Does compensation for death have priority over compensation for property?
Yes. Where both are present, the amounts are first assigned to cover the shares of compensation for death or bodily injury.
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 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.