Article 157 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 157 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الأول: تحديد الجرائم والأفعال
The aircraft commander may take necessary and preventive measures, including restraint, against a person who commits a crime or endangers safety, may enlist crew and passengers, and may ask for the person to be disembarked or handed over to the authorities.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يجوز لقائد الطائرة إذا اعتقد لأسباب معقولة أن شخصا على متن الطائرة وهي في حالة طيران قد ارتكب أو يشرع في ارتكاب إحدى الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا الباب أو أي فعل يعرض أو قد يعرض للخطر سلامة الطائرة أو الأشخاص أو الأموال على متنها أو يعرض للخطر حسن النظام والضبط على متنها؛ أن يتخذ تجاه هذا الشخص ما يراه من تدابير ضرورية ووقائية بما فيها تقييد الحرية.
2 - يجوز لقائد الطائرة أن يأمر باقي أعضاء الطاقم أو يأذن لهم بمعاونته في اتخاذ التدابير المشار إليها في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة، كما يجوز له أن يطلب تلك المعونة من الركاب أو يأذن لهم بها، إلا أنه لا يجوز له إجبارهم على ذلك.
3 - لقائد الطائرة أن يطلب من السلطات المختصة في الدولة التي تهبط الطائرة في إقليمها إنزال الشخص المشار إليه في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة، مع بيان الأسباب المسوغة لذلك.
4 - إذا رأى قائد الطائرة تسليم شخص على متن الطائرة بسبب خطورة الجريمة التي ارتكبها فعليه إخطار سلطات الدولة التي تهبط الطائرة في إقليمها بأسرع وقت ممكن مع بيان الأسباب، وعليه أن يقدم عند الهبوط عناصر الإثبات والمعلومات المتوافرة لديه.
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 157 explained in plain English
This article gives the aircraft commander exceptional powers to deal with danger on board the aircraft while it is in flight.
1- The measures: If the commander believes on reasonable grounds that a person on board the aircraft in flight:
- has committed or is about to commit one of the crimes provided for in this Part; or
- has committed an act that endangers or may endanger the safety of the aircraft or of persons or property on board, or good order and discipline on it;
the commander may take against that person whatever necessary and preventive measures the commander considers appropriate, including restraint.
2- Assistance: The commander may order or authorize the other crew members to assist. The commander may also ask passengers for assistance or authorize them to assist, but may not compel them.
3- Disembarkation: The commander may ask the authorities of the state in whose territory the aircraft lands to disembark the person, stating the reasons.
4- Handing over: If the commander decides to hand over the person because of the seriousness of the crime, the commander must notify the authorities of the state of landing as soon as possible, stating the reasons, and on landing must present the evidence and information available.
The standard of "reasonable grounds" means the commander does not need certainty, but the belief must be based on acceptable grounds. The meaning of "in flight" is set by Article 156. It is followed by Article 158 on the authorities' actions when crimes occur. Someone restrained on board an aircraft who believes it was unjustified may consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
On an international flight heading to Jeddah, a passenger attacked a flight attendant and tried to approach the cockpit. The aircraft commander may order the crew to restrain him and may ask for help from volunteer passengers without compelling them, then notify the Jeddah airport authorities as soon as possible and hand the passenger over to them with the information and evidence available.
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 157 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Is an aircraft commander entitled to restrain a passenger?
Yes. If the commander believes on reasonable grounds that the person has committed or is about to commit a crime or an act that endangers safety or order, the commander may take necessary and preventive measures, including restraint.
Must passengers help the crew control a passenger?
The aircraft commander may ask passengers for assistance or authorize them to assist, but may not compel them.
What does the commander do with the passenger after landing?
The commander may ask the authorities of the state of landing to disembark the person, stating the reasons, or hand the person over if the crime is serious, after notifying them and presenting the evidence.
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.