Article 78 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 78 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثالث: الحجز على الطائرات
The seizing party is liable for damage to the aircraft's owner or operator if they seize where it is not permitted, a sufficient guarantee was refused, or the seizure had no legitimate reason.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكون الحاجز مسؤولا وفقًا للأحكام والأنظمة المطبقة في المملكة عن الضرر الذي يلحق بمالك الطائرة أو مشغلها إذا أجرى توقيع الحجز على الطائرة في غير الحالات التي يجوز الحجز فيها وفقًا لأحكام هذا الفصل، أو إذا رُفضت الكفالة الكافية المقدمة من المدين ليحول دون توقيع الحجز على الطائرة أو رفعه أو إذا كان الحجز قد تم بدون سبب مشروع.
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 78 explained in plain English
This article protects the owner or operator of an aircraft against misuse of seizure, by making the seizing party liable for the damage they suffer, in accordance with the provisions and laws applicable in the Kingdom, in three cases:
- Seizure in cases where it is not permitted under the provisions of this chapter, such as seizing an aircraft the chapter bars from seizure.
- Refusal of a sufficient guarantee offered by the debtor to prevent the seizure of the aircraft or to lift it.
- Seizure without a legitimate reason.
Grounding an aircraft can cause large losses, such as cancelled flights, obligations to customers and parking costs, so the Law balances the creditor's right to seize against the owner's or operator's right not to be seized wrongfully.
The article does not set the method of assessing compensation or its amount; it refers to the provisions and laws applicable in the Kingdom, which are consulted to prove and assess the damage.
This article is linked to Article 77, which requires urgent determination of disputes about seizure of aircraft and requests to lift it; the injured party may ask for the seizure to be lifted urgently and then claim compensation for the damage. It is followed by Article 79 on enforcement seizure. Anyone harmed by a seizure of their aircraft, or considering requesting a seizure, is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in compensation and civil aviation matters before taking any step.
Practical example
A private airline in Riyadh offered a bank guarantee covering the whole debt and expenses to lift a precautionary seizure on its aircraft, but the creditor refused it, so the aircraft stayed grounded for two weeks and contracted flights were cancelled. In this case the seizing party is liable for the damage suffered by the company under the applicable laws.
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 78 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Am I entitled to compensation if my aircraft was seized without right?
The seizing party is liable for the damage to the owner or operator if the seizure was made in cases where it is not permitted or without a legitimate reason, under the applicable laws.
What if the creditor refuses the guarantee I offered?
If the guarantee offered was sufficient and was refused, the seizing party is liable for the resulting damage.
How is compensation for a wrongful seizure assessed?
The article does not set the method of assessment; it refers to the provisions and laws applicable in the Kingdom.
More articles on Attaching Aircraft
- Article 62
Where an aircraft is attached or sold by force, creating or transferring Article 56 rights is not recognized if the debtor did so knowing of the proceedings and intending to harm the attaching creditor, the enforcing party or the buyer.
في حالة توقيع الحجز ، أو إجراء البيع الجبري لطائرة ، أو أي حق عليها؛ لا يجوز الاعتراف بإنشاء أو بنقل أي من الحقوق الواردة في الفقرة (1) من المادة (السادسة والخم
- Article 63
A forced sale of an aircraft follows the procedures of the laws in force and the Implementing Regulations; a sale breaching them can be annulled within six months, and the buyer takes ownership free of all rights.
1 - إذا تقرر بيع الطائرة جبريًّا في المملكة لتسديد الديون المستحقة عليها؛ فإن إجراءات البيع الجبري تتم وفقا للإجراءات التي تحددها الأحكام والأنظمة المطبقة في ال
- Article 65
A forced sale of an aircraft also covers the spare parts seized with it; the article governs auctioning them at two-thirds of value where the seizing creditor's debt has no security interest, and distributing the proceeds.
1- إذا تقرر بيع الطائرة جبريًّا وفقًا للمادة (الثالثة والستين) من هذا النظام فإن هذا البيع يشمل قطع الغيار المحجوز عليها، ويتم نقل ملكيتها للمشتري الجديد. 2- إذ
- Article 71
The article defines a precautionary seizure of an aircraft as any act that grounds the aircraft for a private interest through the courts or competent authorities, and gives the Authority the right to ground it for unpaid fees.
يقصد بالحجز التحفظي في مفهوم هذا الفصل: كل تصرف أيًّا كانت تسميته يتم بمقتضاه وقف الطائرة رعاية لمصلحة خاصة عن طريق القضاء أو السلطات المختصة لصالح الدائن أو ال
- Article 72
The article excludes from the seizure chapter the precautionary measures in bankruptcy proceedings and those taken for violating this Law, the customs or penal laws, or the security rules.
لا تسري أحكام هذا الفصل على الإجراءات التحفظية الخاصة بدعاوى الإفلاس، ولا على الإجراءات التحفظية التي تتخذ عند مخالفة أحكام هذا النظام، أو الأنظمة الجمركية ، أو
- Article 73
The article bars precautionary seizure of non-commercial State-service aircraft, scheduled-service aircraft and their indispensable spares, and commercial aircraft about to depart, except for a debt tied to the flight.
1 - لا يوقع الحجز التحفظي على ما يأتي : أ - الطائرات المخصصة لخدمة الدولة، ويستثنى من ذلك ما خصص لخدمة التجارة. ب - الطائرات المستخدمة فعلا وبصورة مطلقة على خط
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.