Article 160 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 160 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: صلاحيات وواجبات السلطات
When an accused is handed over under Article 157 or found in the Kingdom, the authorities must detain the person for the time needed, allow immediate contact with the person's consular representative, investigate at once, and then prosecute, deport or extradite depending on jurisdiction.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على السلطات المختصة في المملكة عند تسليم أي متهم وفقا لأحكام المادة (السابعة والخمسين بعد المائة) من هذا النظام أو إذا وجد المتهم في إقليم المملكة ؛ أن تقوم باتخاذ الإجراءات القانونية الآتية وفقا للأنظمة والقواعد المطبقة:
1 - احتجاز هذا الشخص للفترة اللازمة لإتمام الإجراءات القضائية أو إجراءات تسليمه لدولة أخرى، مع السماح للشخص بالاتصال فورًا بأقرب ممثل مختص للدولة التي يحمل جنسيتها.
2 - إجراء تحقيق فوري في الحادث للتحقق من ارتكابه جريمة تدخل في الاختصاص القضائي لمحاكم المملكة، وتقديمه للمحاكمة إذا ثبت هذا الاختصاص القضائي .
3 - إبعاد أو تسليم المتهم إلى الدولة التي يحمل جنسيتها أو دولة إقامته الدائمة أو الدولة التي بدأ منها رحلته الجوية إذا كانت الجريمة لا تدخل في الاختصاص القضائي للمملكة.
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 160 explained in plain English
This article sets out what the competent authorities in the Kingdom do with the accused after being handed over.
When does it apply? On the handing over of any accused person under Article 157, which allows the aircraft commander to hand over a person on board because of the seriousness of the crime committed, after notifying the authorities of the state of landing and presenting the evidence, or where the accused is found in the territory of the Kingdom.
The procedures (in accordance with the applicable laws and rules):
- Detention: detaining the person for the time needed to complete judicial procedures or procedures for handing the person over to another state, while allowing the person immediate contact with the nearest competent representative of the state of which the person is a national.
- Investigation: conducting an immediate investigation into the incident to establish whether a crime falling within the jurisdiction of the Kingdom's courts was committed, and bringing the person to trial if that jurisdiction is established.
- Deportation or handing over: if the crime does not fall within the Kingdom's jurisdiction, the accused is deported or handed over to the state of which the person is a national, the state of permanent residence, or the state from which the flight began.
Safeguards for the accused: The text limits detention to the time needed, guarantees immediate contact with the person's state representative, and requires an immediate investigation.
This article follows Article 159, which obliges the authorities to allow the aircraft commander to disembark or hand over a person, and precedes Article 161, which provides that disembarkation or handing over is not acceptance of entry into the Kingdom. Anyone detained in these circumstances, or whose relative is detained, needs a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
The commander of a foreign aircraft handed a passenger of another nationality over to the authorities at Jeddah airport for assaulting a crew member. The authorities detain him for the time needed and allow him to contact his state's representative immediately, and investigate at once; if the jurisdiction of the Kingdom's courts is established he is brought to trial, otherwise he is deported or handed over to one of the states specified in the article.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 160 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Is a foreign accused entitled to contact his embassy?
Yes. The person is allowed to contact immediately the nearest competent representative of the state of which the person is a national.
What happens if the crime is not within the jurisdiction of the Kingdom's courts?
The accused is deported or handed over to the state of which the person is a national, the state of permanent residence, or the state from which the flight began.
How long may the accused be detained?
For the period needed to complete the judicial procedures or the procedures for handing the person over to another state.
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.