CITE
49 USC Sec. 46502 01/08/2008
EXPCITE
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
HEAD
Sec. 46502. Aircraft piracy
STATUTE
(a) In Special Aircraft Jurisdiction. - (1) In this subsection -
(A) "aircraft piracy" means seizing or exercising control of an
aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United
States by force, violence, threat of force or violence, or any
form of intimidation, and with wrongful intent.
(B) an attempt to commit aircraft piracy is in the special
aircraft jurisdiction of the United States although the aircraft
is not in flight at the time of the attempt if the aircraft would
have been in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United
States had the aircraft piracy been completed.
(2) An individual committing or attempting or conspiring to
commit aircraft piracy -
(A) shall be imprisoned for at least 20 years; or
(B) notwithstanding section 3559(b) of title 18, if the death
of another individual results from the commission or attempt,
shall be put to death or imprisoned for life.
(b) Outside Special Aircraft Jurisdiction. - (1) An individual
committing or conspiring to commit an offense (as defined in the
Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft) on
an aircraft in flight outside the special aircraft jurisdiction of
the United States -
(A) shall be imprisoned for at least 20 years; or
(B) notwithstanding section 3559(b) of title 18, if the death
of another individual results from the commission or attempt,
shall be put to death or imprisoned for life.
(2) There is jurisdiction over the offense in paragraph (1) if -
(A) a national of the United States was aboard the aircraft;
(B) an offender is a national of the United States; or
(C) an offender is afterwards found in the United States.
(3) For purposes of this subsection, the term "national of the
United States" has the meaning prescribed in section 101(a)(22) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)).
SOURCE
(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1241; Pub. L.
103-429, Sec. 6(61), Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4385; Pub. L. 104-
132, title VII, Secs. 721(a), 723(b), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat.
1298, 1300.)
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
PUB. L. 103-272
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Revised Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)
Section
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46502(a)(1) 49 App.:1472(i)(2), Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L.
(3). 85-726, 72 Stat. 731, Sec.
902(i); added Sept. 5, 1961,
Pub. L. 87-197, Sec. 1, 75
Stat. 466; Oct. 14, 1970,
Pub. L. 91-449, Sec. 1(3),
84 Stat. 921; Aug. 5, 1974,
Pub. L. 93-366, Secs.
103(a), 104, 88 Stat. 410,
411.
46502(a)(2) 49 App.:1472(i)(1).
46502(b)(1) 49 App.:1472(n)(1). Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L.
85-726, 72 Stat. 731, Sec.
902(n)(1), (3); added Aug.
5, 1974, Pub. L. 93-366,
Sec. 103(b), 88 Stat. 410.
46502(b)(2) 49 App.:1472(n)(3).
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In subsection (a)(1)(B), the words "offense of" are omitted as
surplus.
In subsection (a)(2), the words "as herein defined" are omitted
as surplus.
In subsection (b)(2), the words "the place of actual" are omitted
as surplus. The words "as defined in paragraph (2) of this
subsection" are omitted because of the restatement. The word
"country" is substituted for "State" for consistency in the revised
title and with other titles of the United States Code.
PUB. L. 103-429
This amends 49:46502(a)(2)(B) and (b)(1)(B) to clarify the
restatement of 49 App.:1472(i)(1)(B) and (n)(1)(B) by section 1 of
the Act of July 5, 1994 (Public Law 103-272, 108 Stat. 1241, 1242).
AMENDMENTS
1996 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104-132, Sec. 723(b)(1), inserted
"or conspiring" after "attempting".
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 104-132, Secs. 721(a)(1), 723(b)(2), in
introductory provisions, inserted "or conspiring to commit" after
"committing" and struck out "and later found in the United States"
after "jurisdiction of the United States".
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 104-132, Sec. 721(a)(2), amended par. (2)
generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "This
subsection applies only if the place of takeoff or landing of the
aircraft on which the individual commits the offense is located
outside the territory of the country of registration of the
aircraft."
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 104-132, Sec. 721(a)(3), added par. (3).
1994 - Subsecs. (a)(2)(B), (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 103-429 inserted
"notwithstanding section 3559(b) of title 18," before "if the
death".
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1994 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 103-429 effective July 5, 1994, see section
9 of Pub. L. 103-429, set out as a note under section 321 of this
title.
DEATH PENALTY PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN AIR PIRACY CASES OCCURRING
BEFORE ENACTMENT OF THE FEDERAL DEATH PENALTY ACT OF 1994
Pub. L. 109-177, title II, Sec. 211, Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 230,
provided that:
"(a) In General. - Section 60003 of the Violent Crime Control and
Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-322), is amended, as of
the time of its enactment [Sept. 13, 1994], by adding at the end
the following:
" '(c) [Omitted, see below.]'.
"(b) Severability Clause. - If any provision of section
60003(b)(2) of the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
(Public Law 103-322) [repealed section 46503 of this title], or the
application thereof to any person or any circumstance is held
invalid, the remainder of such section and the application of such
section to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected
thereby."
Pub. L. 103-322, title VI, Sec. 60003(c), as added by Pub. L. 109-
177, title II, Sec. 211(a), Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 230, provided
that:
"(c) Death Penalty Procedures for Certain Previous Aircraft
Piracy Violations. - An individual convicted of violating section
46502 of title 49, United States Code, or its predecessor, may be
sentenced to death in accordance with the procedures established in
chapter 228 of title 18, United States Code, if for any offense
committed before the enactment of the Violent Crime Control and Law
Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-322) [Sept. 13, 1994], but
after the enactment of the Antihijacking Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-
366) [Aug. 5, 1974], it is determined by the finder of fact,
before consideration of the factors set forth in sections
3591(a)(2) and 3592(a) and (c) of title 18, United States Code,
that one or more of the factors set forth in former section
46503(c)(2) of title 49, United States Code, or its predecessor,
has been proven by the Government to exist, beyond a reasonable
doubt, and that none of the factors set forth in former section
46503(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, or its predecessor,
has been proven by the defendant to exist, by a preponderance of
the information. The meaning of the term 'especially heinous,
cruel, or depraved', as used in the factor set forth in former
section 46503(c)(2)(B)(iv) of title 49, United States Code, or its
predecessor, shall be narrowed by adding the limiting language 'in
that it involved torture or serious physical abuse to the victim',
and shall be construed as when that term is used in section
3592(c)(6) of title 18, United States Code."
AIRCRAFT PIRACY
The United States is a party to the Convention for the
Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, signed at The Hague,
Dec. 16, 1970, entered into force as to the United States, Oct. 14,
1971, 22 UST 1641.