aviation offences

offences committed on an aircraft. These include violent behaviour against the crew or by being drunk. Endangering an aircraft or a person on an aircraft is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. Being drunk on an aircraft is itself an offence, as is smoking in a prohibited place. A failure to obey a lawful command of the commander of the aircraft given for the safety of the aircraft or the passengers or for the efficiency of air navigation is an offence.

Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006

References in periodicals archive ?

She said: "A 35-year-old man was arrested from an inbound flight to Birmingham Airport from Amsterdam for aviation offences just after 8.30pm last night (March 2), following a complaint from passengers that they had been threatened and abused by a man and a woman during the flight.

Police storm plane after man allegedly abuses passengers on flight to Birmingham; West Midlands Police confirmed they swooped on the busy airport just after 8.30pm on Saturday, March 2

The new aviation offences act increases the maximum penalty for the most serious offence of endangering the safety of an aircraft from the previous two years' imprisonment, and gives police greater powers of arrest.

New stiffer penalty for air rage incidents

Under the Aviation Offences Act - sponsored by Frank Roy MP - the maximum penalty for the offence of endangering the safety of an aircraft will be increased from two to five years.