Article 155 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 155 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الأول: تحديد الجرائم والأفعال
A person who smokes on board a civil aircraft or in its lavatory, tampers with safety devices, operates portable devices when prohibited, or refuses to sit or fasten the seat belt commits a violation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعد مخالفا كل من يقوم بارتكاب أحد الأفعال الآتية على متن طائرة مدنية :
أ - عدم الامتناع عن التدخين، أو التدخين في دورة المياه أو في مكان آخر.
ب - العبث بجهاز الكشف عن الدخان أو غير ذلك من الأجهزة المتعلقة بالسلامة الموجودة على متن الطائرة .
ج - تشغيل أي أجهزة إلكترونية محمولة عندما يكون ذلك محظورًا.
د - رفض الجلوس في المقعد المخصص أو رفض ربط الحزام.
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 155 explained in plain English
After Article 154 listed the acts that are "crimes," this article specifies lesser acts that are "violations" if committed on board a civil aircraft.
Anyone who commits any of the following acts is a violator:
- a- Smoking: failing to refrain from smoking, or smoking in the lavatory or any other place.
- b- Tampering with safety devices: tampering with the smoke detector or other safety-related devices on board the aircraft.
- c- Electronic devices: operating any portable electronic devices when that is prohibited. The prohibition is tied to the times when operation is forbidden, not to all times.
- d- Seat and seat belt: refusing to sit in the assigned seat or refusing to fasten the seat belt.
The difference between a violation and a crime: The acts in Article 154, such as violence against a person on board the aircraft, harassment, theft, or refusing the aircraft commander's lawful instructions for safety, are crimes. The acts here are called "violations" by the article.
This article does not specify the penalty. It is followed by Article 156, which determines when an aircraft is considered in flight or in service for the purposes of this chapter. Someone issued a violation who wishes to contest it may consult a lawyer specializing in criminal or administrative cases.
Practical example
A passenger lit a cigarette in the lavatory during a flight from Riyadh to Cairo, and the smoke detector went off. This passenger is a violator under this article because of smoking in the lavatory.
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 155 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Is smoking in an aircraft lavatory a violation?
Yes. Anyone who fails to refrain from smoking, or smokes in the lavatory or any other place on board a civil aircraft, is a violator.
Is using a mobile phone on an aircraft a violation?
Operating any portable electronic devices when that is prohibited is a violation.
Is refusing to fasten the seat belt a violation?
Yes. Refusing to sit in the assigned seat or refusing to fasten the seat belt is a violation.
More articles on Aviation Security Offenses and Penalties
- Article 14
Unauthorized persons may not interfere with or obstruct the flight crew during flight, and no one may tamper with the aircraft or endanger its safety, its crew or its passengers.
يحظر على أي شخص غير مخول رسميا أن يتدخل في أعمال أي عضو من أعضاء هيئة القيادة أو يعوقه عن عمله أثناء فترة الطيران ، كما يحظر على أي شخص العبث بأي جزء من أجزاء ا
- Article 19
The owner or operator of an aircraft registered in the Kingdom may not offer or sell alcohol, narcotics or prohibited items on board; arrivals may not possess them, and no aircraft may carry them into the Kingdom.
1 - يحظر على مالك أي طائرة مسجلة في المملكة، أو مشغلها أن يقدم أو يبيع لأي شخص على متنها أي مشروبات كحولية ، أو مواد مخدرة ، أو أي مواد محظور دخولها إلى المملكة
- Article 105
The article prohibits anyone from boarding an aircraft if they show signs of intoxication or drug use.
يحظر على أي شخص ركوب الطائرة إذا كانت تبدو عليه علامات السكر أو المخدر.
- Article 106
The article prohibits piloting an aircraft or working as a crew member while under the influence of an intoxicant, drug or impairing medication, and prohibits taking any of them throughout the period of work.
يحظر على أي شخص أن يقود طائرة أو أن يعمل كأحد أفراد طاقمها ما دام تحت تأثير مسكر أو مخدر أو دواء يؤدي إلى إضعاف مقدرته على القيام بواجباته على الوجه الأكمل، وفي
- Article 153
The provisions of the international treaties and conventions the Kingdom has approved, and the laws applied in the Kingdom, apply to crimes and acts committed against the security and safety of civil aviation and aircraft.
تطبق على الجرائم والأفعال التي ترتكب ضد أمن وسلامة الطيران المدني والطائرات؛ أحكام المعاهدات والاتفاقيات الدولية بهذا الشأن التي وافقت عليها المملكة وأحكام الأن
- Article 154
The article specifies the acts that are crimes against aviation security, such as violence on board an aircraft, destroying it, giving false information, seizing it, assaults at airports, assaulting crew, harassment and theft.
1- يُعد مرتبكًا لجريمة أي شخص يشرع في ارتكاب أو يرتكب عمدا ودون حق مشروع فعلا من الأفعال الآتية أو يشارك شخصا آخر يشرع أو يرتكب هذا الفعل: أ - أن يقوم بعمل من أ
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.