
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-71 Section 114(b)]
[CITE: 49USC46501]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                     SUBTITLE VII--AVIATION PROGRAMS
 
                     PART A--AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY
 
                  subpart iv--enforcement and penalties
 
     CHAPTER 465--SPECIAL AIRCRAFT JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES
 
Sec. 46501. Definitions

    In this chapter--
        (1) ``aircraft in flight'' means an aircraft from the moment all 
    external doors are closed following boarding--
            (A) through the moment when one external door is opened to 
        allow passengers to leave the aircraft; or
            (B) until, if a forced landing, competent authorities take 
        over responsibility for the aircraft and individuals and 
        property on the aircraft.

        (2) ``special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States'' 
    includes any of the following aircraft in flight:
            (A) a civil aircraft of the United States.
            (B) an aircraft of the armed forces of the United States.
            (C) another aircraft in the United States.
            (D) another aircraft outside the United States--
                (i) that has its next scheduled destination or last 
            place of departure in the United States, if the aircraft 
            next lands in the United States;
                (ii) on which an individual commits an offense (as 
            defined in the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful 
            Seizure of Aircraft) if the aircraft lands in the United 
            States with the individual still on the aircraft; or
                (iii) against which an individual commits an offense (as 
            defined in subsection (d) or (e) of article I, section I of 
            the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against 
            the Safety of Civil Aviation) if the aircraft lands in the 
            United States with the individual still on the aircraft.

            (E) any other aircraft leased without crew to a lessee whose 
        principal place of business is in the United States or, if the 
        lessee does not have a principal place of business, whose 
        permanent residence is in the United States.

        (3) an individual commits an offense (as defined in the 
    Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft) when 
    the individual, when on an aircraft in flight--
            (A) by any form of intimidation, unlawfully seizes, 
        exercises control of, or attempts to seize or exercise control 
        of, the aircraft; or
            (B) is an accomplice of an individual referred to in 
        subclause (A) of this clause.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1240.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
46501(1)..............................  49 App.:1301(38) (words after    Aug. 2
3, 1958, Pub. L. 85-726, 72 Stat.
                                         10th comma).                     731, 
Sec.  101(38); added Oct. 14,
                                                                          1970,
 Pub. L. 91-449, Sec.  1(1), 84
                                                                          Stat.
 921; restated Aug. 5, 1974, Pub.
                                                                          L. 93
-366, Secs.  102, 206, 88 Stat.
                                                                          409, 
419; Nov. 9, 1977, Pub. L. 95-
                                                                          163, 
Sec.  17(b)(1), 91 Stat. 1286;
                                                                          Oct. 
24, 1978, Pub. L. 95-504, Sec.
                                                                          2(b),
 92 Stat. 1705; Oct. 12, 1984,
                                                                          Pub. 
L. 98-473, Sec.  2013(c), 98
                                                                          Stat.
 2189.
                                        49 App.:1472(n)(4).              Aug. 2
3, 1958, Pub. L. 85-726, 72 Stat.
                                                                          731, 
Sec.  902(n)(2), (4); added Aug.
                                                                          5, 19
74, Pub. L. 93-366, Sec.  103(b),
                                                                          88 St
at. 410, 411.
46501(2)..............................  49 App.:1301(38) (words before
                                         10th comma).
46501(3)..............................  49 App.:1472(n)(2).
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---------------------------------

    In clause (2), before subclause (A), the words ``any of the 
following'' are substituted for ``includes'' for clarity. In subclause 
(B), the words ``armed forces'' are substituted for ``national defense 
forces'' because of 10:101. In subclause (D)(i), the word ``place'' is 
substituted for ``point'' for consistency in the revised title. The word 
``actually'' is omitted as surplus. In subclause (D)(ii), the words ``on 
which an individual commits'' are substituted for ``having . . . 
committed aboard'' for clarity. In subclause (D)(iii), the words 
``against which an individual commits'' are substituted for ``regarding 
which an offense . . . is committed'' for clarity. The words 
``(Montreal, September 23, 1971)'' are omitted as surplus. In subclause 
(E), the words ``the lessee does not have a principal place of 
business'' are substituted for ``none'' for clarity.
    In clause (3), the words ``by force or threat thereof, or . . . 
other'' are omitted as surplus.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in title 18 sections 31, 112, 831, 878, 
1116, 1201, 2318, 2340.
