The Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982

(1) This Act may be called theSuppression of UnlawfulActs against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982. (2) It extends to thewhole of India and, save as otherwise provided in this Act, it applies also toanyoffence under section 3 committed outside India by any person. (3) It shall come intoforce on such date1as the Central Government may, by notification intheOfficial Gazette, appoint.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-- (a) "aircraft" means any aircraft, whether or not registered in India, other than a militaryaircraft or an aircraft used in customs or police service; (b) "aircraft registered in India" means an aircraft which is for the time being registered inIndia; 1[(bb) "airport" means an aerodrome as defined in clause (2) of section 2 of the Aircraft Act,1934 (22 of 1934);] (c) "Convention country" means a country in which the Montreal Convention is for the timebeing in force; (d) "military aircraft" means an aircraft of the naval, military, air force or any other armedforces of any country and includes every aircraft commanded for the time being by a person insuch force detailed for the purpose; (e) "Montreal Convention" means the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Actsagainst the Safety of Civil Aviation signed at Montreal on the 23rd day of September, 1971. (2) For the purposes of this Act,-- (a) an aircraft shall be deemed to be in flight at any time from the moment when all its externaldoors are closed following embarkation until the moment when any such door is opened fordisembarkation, and in the case of a forced landing, the flight shall be deemed to continue until the competent authorities of the country in which such forced landing takes place take over theresponsibility for the aircraft and for persons and property on board; (b) an aircraft shall be deemed to be in service from the beginning of the pre-flight preparation ofthe aircraft by the ground staff or by the crew for a specific flight until twenty-four hours after anylanding and the period of such service shall include the entire period during which the aircraft is inflight.

(1) Whoever unlawfullyand intentionally-- (a) commits an act of violence against a person on board an aircraft in flight which is likely toendanger the safety of such aircraft; or (b) destroys an aircraft in service or causes damage to such aircraft in such a manner as to renderit incapable of flight or which is likely to endanger its safety in flight; or (c) places or causes to be placed on an aircraft in service, by any means whatsoever, a device orsubstance which is likely to destroy that aircraft, or to cause damage to it which renders it incapableof flight, or to cause damage to it which is likely to endanger its safety in flight; or (d) communicates such information which he knows to be false so as to endanger the safety of anaircraft in flight, shall be punished with imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine. (2) Whoever attempts to commit, or abets the commission of, any offence under sub-section (1) shallalso be deemed to be have committed such offence and shall be punished with the punishment providedfor such offence.

1[3A. Offence at airport.-- (1) Whoever, at any airport, unlawfully and intentionally, using anydevice, substance or weapon,-- (a) commits an act of violence which is likely to cause grievous hurt or death of any person; or (b) destroys or seriously damages any aircraft or facility at an airport or disrupts any service at theairport, endangering or threatening to endanger safety at that airport, shall be punished with imprisonment for lifeand shall also be liable to fine. (2) Whoever attempts to commit, or abets the commission of, any offence under sub-section (1) shallalso be deemed to have committed such offence and shall be punished with the punishment provided forsuch offence.]

(1) Whoever unlawfully andintentionally destroys or damages air navigation facilities or interferes with their operation in such amanner as is likely to endanger the safety of the aircraft in flight shall be punished with imprisonment forlife and shall also be liable to fine. (2) Whoever attempts to commit, or abets the commission of, any offence under sub-section (1) shallalso be deemed to have committed such offence and shall be punished with the punishment provided forsuch offence.