Article 159 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 159 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: صلاحيات وواجبات السلطات
The competent authorities in the Kingdom must allow the aircraft commander to disembark or hand over any person in accordance with Article 157.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على السلطات المختصة في المملكة أن تسمح لقائد الطائرة بإنزال أي شخص أو تسليمه وفقا لأحكام المادة (السابعة والخمسين 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 159 explained in plain English
This article completes the aircraft commander's powers in Article 157 by obliging the competent authorities in the Kingdom to enable the commander to exercise them on landing there.
The obligation: The competent authorities in the Kingdom must allow the aircraft commander to disembark or hand over any person, in accordance with Article 157.
What Article 157 provides:
- 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 of this Part, or an act that endangers safety or good order and discipline, the commander may take necessary and preventive measures against that person, including restraint;
- the commander may ask the authorities of the state where the aircraft lands to disembark that person, stating the reasons; and
- 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 present the evidence and information available on landing.
So the authorities are bound to allow it whenever the disembarkation or handing over accords with these provisions.
The rationale: The commander's power to disembark and hand over is worth little if the authorities on the ground refuse to receive the person. The Law therefore obliges the Saudi authorities to cooperate.
It is followed by Article 160, which sets out the legal procedures the authorities take after the accused is handed over, such as detention and investigation. Someone disembarked or handed over in this way needs to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
A foreign aircraft landed at Riyadh airport, and its commander asked for the disembarkation of a passenger who had disturbed order during the flight, stating the reasons. The competent authorities in the Kingdom must allow the commander to disembark this passenger.
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 159 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Are the Saudi authorities bound to receive a passenger disembarked by the aircraft commander?
Yes. The competent authorities in the Kingdom must allow the aircraft commander to disembark or hand over any person in accordance with Article 157.
Must the commander state the reasons for disembarkation?
Yes. Under Article 157 the commander asks for disembarkation stating the justifying reasons, and on handing over notifies the authorities of the reasons and presents the evidence.
Articles this article refers to
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.