Article 156 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 156 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الأول: تحديد الجرائم والأفعال
An aircraft is in flight from when all external doors are closed after boarding until one is opened for passengers to leave, and in service from when preparation for a flight begins until 24 hours after its last landing.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تعد الطائرة في حالة طيران في أي وقت منذ اللحظة التي يتم فيها إغلاق جميع أبوابها الخارجية بعد صعود الركاب حتى اللحظة التي يتم فيها فتح أي من هذه الأبواب من أجل مغادرة الركاب لها، وفي حالة الهبوط الاضطراري يستمر اعتبار الطائرة في حالة طيران حتى تتولى السلطة المختصة مسؤوليتها عن الطائرة وما على متنها من أشخاص وأموال.
2- تعد ( الطائرة في الخدمة) منذ بدء إعداد الطائرة للطيران بواسطة عمال الخدمات الأرضية أو بواسطة طاقم الطائرة للقيام برحلة معينة حتى مضي أربع وعشرين ساعة على آخر هبوط للطائرة ، وعلى أي حال تمتد فترة الخدمة طوال كل المدة التي تعد فيها الطائرة في حالة طيران على الوجه المحدد في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة.
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 156 explained in plain English
The provisions of this chapter on specifying crimes and acts use the phrases "in flight" and "in service." This article defines the meaning of each.
1- An aircraft in flight:
- begins from the moment all its external doors are closed after passengers have boarded; and
- ends when any of those doors is opened for passengers to leave.
- In the case of an emergency landing, it continues to be considered in flight until the competent authority assumes responsibility for the aircraft and the persons and property on board.
This definition is broader than mere flying: an aircraft standing on the runway with its doors closed is considered in flight.
2- An aircraft in service:
- begins from when preparation of the aircraft for flight begins, by ground service staff or its crew, for a particular flight;
- continues until 24 hours have passed since its last landing; and
- in all cases extends throughout the whole period during which the aircraft is considered in flight.
Why it matters: Some provisions of this chapter depend on the aircraft being "in flight," and others on its being "in service," so determining the time at which the act occurred determines whether the provision applies.
It is followed by Article 157, which gives the aircraft commander powers regarding a person who commits a crime while it is in flight. Anyone facing an accusation that depends on this timing should consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
An aircraft's crew closed all its doors at Dammam airport after passengers boarded, and while it was waiting for takeoff, a passenger assaulted another. At that moment the aircraft is considered in flight for the purposes of this chapter, even though it has not yet taken off.
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 156 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Is an aircraft considered in flight while on the ground?
Yes, from the closing of all its external doors after passengers board until any of them is opened for passengers to leave.
What is meant by an aircraft in service?
From the start of preparing it for flight, by ground service staff or its crew, for a particular flight until 24 hours have passed since its last landing, and it includes the whole period during which it is in flight.
What about an emergency landing?
The aircraft continues to be considered in flight until the competent authority assumes responsibility for the aircraft and the persons and property on board.
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.