---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 46501"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "46501"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/46501"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part A — Air Commerce and Safety"
  - "Subpart iv — enforcement and penalties"
  - "Chapter 465 — Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States"
---

# §46501. Definitions


In this chapter—

- (1) “aircraft in flight” means an [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) 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](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6); or
  - (B) until, if a forced landing, competent authorities take over responsibility for the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) and individuals and property on the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6).
- (2) “special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States” includes any of the following [aircraft in flight](#1):
  - (A) a [civil aircraft of the United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-17).
  - (B) an [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) of the armed forces of the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46).
  - (C) another [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) in the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46).
  - (D) another [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) outside the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46)—
    - (i) that has its next scheduled destination or last place of departure in the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46), if the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) next lands in the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46);
    - (ii) on which an individual commits an offense (as defined in the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of [Aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6)) if the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) lands in the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46) with the individual still on the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6); 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](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) lands in the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46) with the individual still on the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6).
  - (E) any other [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) leased without crew to a lessee whose principal place of business is in the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46) or, if the lessee does not have a principal place of business, whose permanent residence is in the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46).
- (3) an individual commits an offense (as defined in the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of [Aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6)) when the individual, when on an [aircraft in flight](#1)—
  - (A) by any form of intimidation, unlawfully seizes, exercises control of, or attempts to seize or exercise control of, the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6); or
  - (B) is an accomplice of an individual referred to in subclause (A) of this clause.

## Source credit

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

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 46501(1) | 49 App.:1301(38) (words after 10th comma). | Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 101(38); added Oct. 14, 1970, Pub. L. 91–449, § 1(1), 84 Stat. 921; restated Aug. 5, 1974, Pub. L. 93–366, §§ 102, 206, 88 Stat. 409, 419; Nov. 9, 1977, Pub. L. 95–163, § 17(b)(1), 91 Stat. 1286; Oct. 24, 1978, Pub. L. 95–504, § 2(b), 92 Stat. 1705; Oct. 12, 1984, Pub. L. 98–473, § 2013(c), 98 Stat. 2189. |
|  | 49 App.:1472(n)(4). | Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(n)(2), (4); added Aug. 5, 1974, Pub. L. 93–366, § 103(b), 88 Stat. 410, 411. |
| 46501(2) | 49 App.:1301(38) (words before 10th comma). |  |
| 46501(3) | 49 App.:1472(n)(2). |  |

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.